What IBEW NECA Technical Institute does

IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (d/b/a IN-TECH) is a jointly sponsored apprenticeship training institute established in 1913 and operated as a labor-management partnership between IBEW Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) of Chicago. The institute operates a single campus at 6201 West 115th Street, Alsip, Illinois, staffed by approximately 18 employees, and serves apprentices and journeymen in the Cook County, Illinois unionized electrical industry.

IN-TECH delivers two core multi-year registered apprenticeships—a 5-year Electrical Construction Program and a 4-year Communications Program—covering residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work as well as low-voltage systems including structured cabling, security, fire alarm, AV, and networking. Curriculum is augmented by a state-of-the-art Renewable Energy Training Field providing hands-on instruction in solar PV, wind generation, electric vehicle charging, and battery storage, plus more than a dozen journeyman continuing-education courses (NICET fire alarm, BICSI, CCNA, EVITP, ESAMTAC, OSHA, BIM, building automation, motor controls, programmable controls). Online coursework is delivered through a Moodle Workplace learning management system.

The institute's revenue model is membership-funded rather than tuition-based: an industry scholarship loan program jointly underwritten by IBEW Local 134 and the ECA covers the cost of apprenticeship education and is repaid through subsequent work for signatory contractors. Apprentices earn wages during on-the-job training phases and pay only nominal application ($50) and processing ($500) fees plus tool costs. The placement pipeline routes graduates into 600+ union signatory contractors, which forms both the supply side of apprenticeship funding and the demand side of graduate employment. Additional revenue is generated through journeyman continuing-education classes offered in-person at the Alsip campus and online via Moodle. Marketing and applicant sourcing rely on community partnerships (Chicago Builds, Chicago Women in Trades, HIRE360, HACIA), high-school outreach, the ejatt.com website, and an online job board connecting contractors with prospective apprentices and journeymen.

Name

IBEW NECA Technical Institute

Legal name

IBEW-NECA Technical Institute

Website

https://ejatt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-TECH) is a joint IBEW Local 134 / ECA apprenticeship training institute in Alsip, Illinois, delivering 4-5 year electrical construction and communications apprenticeships plus journeyman continuing education funded by 600+ signatory contractors and an industry scholarship loan program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Electrical Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Electrician & Plant Electrical Systems (EDAOABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Electrician Training (Residential & Commercial) (EDAOABAA), Electrical Power Systems & Utility Linework (Transmission/Distribution) (EDAOABAC), Electronics Technician Training (Analog/Digital) (EDAOABAG), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)

Keywords

• Apprenticeship training
• Electrical construction
• Continuing education
• Renewable energy training
• Union trade programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alsip

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Training Funded by Industry Partnership: The IBEW Local 134 and Electrical Contractors' Association have created an industry scholarship loan program that covers the cost of apprenticeship education. The loan is paid off through working in the industry for signatory contractors. Apprentices earn wages during on-the-job training phases.
2. Journeyman Continuing Education: Continuing education classes for journeyperson electricians in various specialties including renewable energy, safety certifications, code training, and technical skills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IN-TECH delivers paid apprenticeship training for electricians through a 5-year Electrical Construction program and a 4-year Communications program, combining classroom theory with hands-on lab and field instruction at a 130,000-square-foot training campus in Alsip, Illinois. The institute also provides Journeyman continuing education courses and short-duration specialty programs such as the Pre-Apprentice course for high school students and adult career changers.

Product overview

IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-TECH) is a training institution offering two primary apprenticeship programs: a 5-year Electrical Construction Program and a 4-year Communications Program, both providing debt-free education with paid on-the-job training. The institution also provides extensive Journeyman continuing education courses covering motor controls, programmable controllers, process control, fire alarm systems, HVAC, fiber optics, networking, cybersecurity, building automation, BIM, and renewable energy technologies including solar, wind, and electric vehicle infrastructure. The Renewable Energy Training Field provides hands-on experience in photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and EV charging. IN-TECH serves as the training arm for IBEW Local 134 and ECA of Chicago, providing industry-recognized certifications including NICET, BICSI, OSHA, CCNA, and ESAMTAC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electrical Construction Apprenticeship Program A 5-year paid electrician apprenticeship that combines classroom theory, hands-on lab, and on-the-job training; tuition is funded via an industry scholarship-loan program through participating IBEW signatory electrical contractors.
• Communications Apprenticeship Program A 4-year paid apprenticeship covering low-voltage, signaling, and communications electrical work; combines technical instruction with required on-the-job training hours for journeyman-level qualification.
• Journeyman Continuing Education Courses Continuing education courses designed for licensed journeyman electricians covering National Electrical Code updates, specialty topics, and emerging technology areas such as renewable energy systems.
• Pre-Apprentice Course A short-duration foundational course providing introductory electrical theory and trade exposure to high school students and adult learners prior to enrolling in a full electrician apprenticeship.
• Renewable Energy Training Hands-on training in photovoltaic solar and wind energy installation provided through the institute's dedicated Renewable Energy Training Field, integrated into both apprenticeship and continuing-education tracks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27% higher wages than non-union counterparts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IBEW Local 134coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 is a co-founding partner. Provides collective bargaining, job placement for apprentices, and ongoing support for members. Together with ECA, they fund the industry scholarship loan program.
• Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectrical Contractors Association of Chicago is co-founding partner. Provides 600+ signatory contractors for apprenticeship placement and ongoing job placement for graduates. Jointly funds apprenticeship education.
• Daley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership providing dual college credit towards associate degree for IN-Tech apprenticeship completers.
• Illinois Institute of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowering Chicago tuition reimbursement program available for Local 134 members pursuing bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology and Management program.
• Chicago Builds (Dunbar High School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership program allowing high school students to learn about benefits of career as Local 134 electrician through IN-Tech instructor interactions.
• Chicago Women in TradesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnership for recruiting women into electrical trades careers.
• HIRE360minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development organization partnership for diverse recruitment into electrical trades.
• HACIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHispanic American Construction Contractors Association partnership for workforce recruitment.
• African American Employment Plan Advisory CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment advisory council partnership for African American workforce recruitment into electrical trades.
• Midwest Renewable Energy AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIssues PV Site Assessor certificate upon completion of IN-TECH PV site assessment course. Certificate is ANSI and IREC accredited.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IBEW Local 3 JATC (New York City): Joint apprenticeship training committee for IBEW Local 3 in New York City, delivering multi-year electrical and communications apprenticeship programs funded through the same IBEW-NECA labor-management framework. Comparable scale and curriculum depth.
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): National non-union counterpart association offering four-year apprenticeships through local IEC chapters. Comparable curriculum and credentialing scope, but operates outside the union/collective-bargaining framework.
• IBEW Local 11 JATC (Los Angeles): Joint apprenticeship training committee for IBEW Local 11 covering the Los Angeles area, providing Inside Wireman, Sound & Communications, and other apprenticeship tracks under the same IBEW-NECA structure as IN-Tech.
• IBEW Local 26 JATC (Washington, D.C.): JATC for IBEW Local 26 in the D.C. metropolitan area, offering Inside Wireman, Residential Wireman, and Sound & Communications apprenticeships with the same labor-management governance model.
• IBEW Local 1 JATC (St. Louis Electrical JATC): Operates the same IBEW-NECA joint apprenticeship training model for IBEW Local 1 in the St. Louis region, running 4-5 year electrical apprenticeships with classroom and on-the-job training. Directly comparable structure, curriculum scope, and union-anchored funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Technical Institute: Large for-profit vocational education provider offering electrical, HVAC, and other trade programs across multiple U.S. campuses. Competes for similar career-changer and high-school-graduate segments but lacks the union placement pipeline.
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): Publicly traded for-profit provider of technical trade education including electrical, HVAC, and industrial programs. Targets similar non-traditional student demographics but operates via tuition rather than industry-funded scholarships.

Regional players

• UA Local 130 Plumbers Local Union Training (Chicago): Chicago-area union apprenticeship program for plumbers and pipefitters operating under the same labor-management training institute model. Same regional labor market, similar funding mechanics, but a different trade vertical.

Others

• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research): Industry-driven credentialing body that develops standardized craft curricula and certifications used across construction trades training programs. Influences curriculum design and credentialing standards relevant to electrical apprenticeship programs.

Emerging players

• Penn Foster: Online vocational education provider offering self-paced electrical and trades programs, including apprenticeship-adjacent curricula. Reaches broader geographic audience but lacks hands-on lab infrastructure and union placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibew-neca-technical-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IBEW NECA Technical Institute