Short answer: To become an electrician in New York, join a NYS DOL-registered apprenticeship and train on the job for about 5 years (5.5 at IBEW Local 3 in NYC), paid while you learn. sources: 1, 2 NYS DOL lists three ways in: apply to a registered apprenticeship during its recruitment, find an electrical employer willing to train you through registered apprenticeship, or use a Direct Entry program if you do not meet the minimums yet. sources: 1, 2 New York has no statewide journeyman license. Licensing is local, and in New York City the Department of Buildings licenses only Master and Special Electricians, so apprentices work under a licensed master. source On October 9, 2026, 11 of the 14 programs in the table below were taking applications, and IBEW Local 3 takes Registered Mail requests October 19 to 30, 2026. sources: 1, 2 Published application or test fees run US$10 to US$25, and most notices let you ask for a waiver.
Every fact below comes from the state agency or the program’s own page, checked October 9, 2026. Upstate journeyman rates are federal Davis-Bacon figures and are labeled that way.
How to apply to IBEW Local 3 in New York City (October 19 to 30, 2026)
Application alert, verified October 9, 2026. The JIB / JAC IBEW Local 3 apprenticeship will recruit 300 electrician apprentices. This is a one-time recruitment window, not a year-round process. NYS DOL notice JIB notice
- Registered Mail only. Letters sent by Certified Mail will not be accepted. Registered Mail and Certified Mail are different postal services, so ask for Registered Mail at the counter, and keep the post office receipt (the JIB notice makes that your responsibility).
- Postmark: not earlier than October 19, 2026 and not later than October 30, 2026.
- Two notices, two wordings: the NYS DOL notice also says “All applications must be postmarked no later than October 30, 2026,” while the JIB notice says only request letters go out in this window and applications are mailed in January. Follow the JIB letter instructions, mail nothing but the request letter, and confirm any later deadline with the JAC.
- Address: Joint Apprentice Committee, 158-11 Harry Van Arsdale Jr Avenue, Flushing, NY 11365.
- In the letter: your printed name and mailing address with ZIP code. One letter per applicant. No documents or money.
- Cap: requests are accepted for 10 business days or until 2,000 registered letters arrive, whichever comes first. Every registered letter postmarked October 19, 2026 gets an application even past 2,000, so mailing on October 19 is the safest day. The 2026 JIB notice says 5,358 requests arrived on the first day in 2019. JIB notice
- Next: applications are mailed in January. Accepted applicants will not start work before fall 2027.
- Age: the NYS DOL notice says at least 18; the JIB notice says 18 years old by December 31, 2026.
- Other requirements: one year of high school algebra or the equivalent (official transcript after selection), 2+ years living within 60 miles of Columbus Circle, and a score of 3 or higher on the NJATC/AIR aptitude test. Apprentices are selected in order of their ranking.
- Physical: after selection and before indenture, by a physician selected and paid by the JAC (NYS DOL notice).
- Fee: US$25, non-refundable. The NYS DOL notice says you may ask for a waiver with proof of financial need; the JIB notice says it is waived for applicants receiving public assistance.
- Missed the window or live outside the 60-mile radius? See which program fits where you live, below. Most are open for months.
New York quick facts
| Question | New York answer (checked October 9, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Statewide journeyman license? | None. Licensing is local; in NYC the Department of Buildings licenses Master and Special Electricians sources: 1, 2 |
| Minimum age | 18 at most electrician programs. NYS DOL allows 16 and 17 with parental approval, but sponsors may set 18 source |
| Apprenticeship length | 5 years in the NYS DOL electrician outline; 5.5 years at IBEW Local 3 NYC and Westchester sources: 1, 2, 3 |
| On-the-job hours | About 8,200 over 5 years source |
| Classroom hours | At least 180 a year, each of the 5 years source |
| Entry test | NJATC/AIR or Electrical Trades aptitude test; published cutoffs 3 to 6 out of 9 sources: 1, 2 |
| Application or test fee | US$10 to US$25 where published; most notices let you ask for a waiver sources: 1, 2 |
| Classroom cost | NYS DOL: usually no cost to the apprentice source |
| NYC first-year apprentice rate | US$19.25 an hour plus US$19.84 supplemental benefits on covered prevailing wage work (July 1, 2026) source |
| NYC Master or Special exams | Written US$585 (70% to pass), practical US$530 source |
Step by step
- Pick the program for where you live. Residency decides eligibility: 2 years within 60 miles of Columbus Circle for Local 3, source 12 months in Nassau or Suffolk for Local 25, source 2 years within 60 miles of White Plains for Westchester, source 6 months for Binghamton and Elmira, sources: 1, 2 1 year living or working in the area for Ithaca. source
- Check the basics. Most programs ask for age 18, a high school diploma or GED, and one year of algebra. sources: 1, 2 NYS DOL allows 16 and 17 year olds with parental approval, but sponsors may set 18. source
- Apply inside the window. Openings are posted as NYS DOL apprenticeship announcements with dates and slots. source See the finder and programs table below for what is open on October 9, 2026.
- Pass the aptitude test. Union programs use the NJATC/AIR (electrical training ALLIANCE) test or the Electrical Trades aptitude test. Published cutoffs run from 3 (Local 3) to 6 of 9 (Westchester, per its 2026 NYS DOL notice). sources: 1, 2
- Interview and ranking. Programs rank applicants and take them in order. At Westchester the ranking is test 50%, interview 40% and vocational training up to 10%. source
- Work and study. The NYS DOL electrician outline sets about 8,200 on-the-job hours over 5 years plus at least 180 classroom hours a year. source Local 3 runs five and a half years source with 108 hours of college coursework at the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies. source You finish with a NYS DOL Certificate of Completion. source
- License later, where your city requires it. In NYC, a completed NYS DOL-registered apprenticeship plus 5 years of experience within the last 10 (2 in NYC) qualifies you for the Master or Special written exam, then the practical exam within 24 months, then a background application within 1 year. All applications go through DOB NOW: Licensing since February 23, 2026. source Outside NYC, check with your city, town or county.
What to do this week
- You have lived 2+ years within 60 miles of Columbus Circle: write your Local 3 request letter now and mail it by Registered Mail on October 19, 2026, the one postmark date with no cap. source
- You live elsewhere in New York: find your area in the table below and apply to the program that is open now. Several close in early 2027. source
- You do not meet a program’s minimums yet (for example, no algebra credit): NYS DOL names a second pathway, a “Direct Entry” program that helps you build the skills to meet a registered apprenticeship’s minimum requirements. Direct Entry providers cannot charge tuition; see the NYS DOL Direct Entry page for approved programs. NYS DOL Direct Entry
Which program fits where you live
Location alone does not make you eligible. Each notice sets its own residency rule, so open the notice before you apply. Service areas overlap (for example Westchester, where Local 3, WFJEATC and USIS all recruit), so if you qualify for more than one program, compare them and apply to each one you are eligible for rather than picking the first row.
| Where you live | Program to check first | Status on Oct 9, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| New York City, or anywhere you have lived 2+ years within 60 miles of Columbus Circle | IBEW Local 3 (JIB) source | Opens Oct 19 Registered Mail, Oct 19 to 30 |
| Nassau or Suffolk (12 months) | Long Island JATC, IBEW Local 25 source | Closed No 2026 NYS DOL notice |
| Westchester (2+ years within 60 miles of White Plains) | Westchester-Fairfield JEATC source | Open to Jun 30, 2027 |
| Orange, Putnam, Rockland or Westchester County, or Bergen County, NJ | USIS Electric (non-union) source | Open to May 7, 2027 |
| Buffalo and Western NY (Local 41 area) | Electricians JAC Buffalo, Local 41 source | Open to Sep 29, 2027 |
| Rochester | Rochester Electrical JATC, Local 86 source | Open to Mar 31, 2027 |
| Geneva, Yates and nearby towns (Local 840 area) | Geneva Electrical JATC, Local 840 source | Open to Sep 10, 2027 |
| Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Oswego, Fulton | Central New York Electrical Training Alliance source | Open to Jun 30, 2027 |
| Cayuga, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga or Tompkins (lived or worked there 1 year) | Electricians JAC of Ithaca, Local 241 source | Open to Mar 31, 2027 |
| Broome and parts of Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga (6 months) | Electricians JAC Binghamton, Local 325 source | Open to Jul 31, 2027 |
| Chemung, Steuben and parts of Allegany, Schuyler, Tioga (6 months) | Electricians JAC of Elmira, Local 139 source | Open to Jan 8, 2027 |
| Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Rensselaer | Tri-City JATC source | Open per its site |
| Watertown and Plattsburgh area | Electricians JATC of Watertown, Local 910 source | Open apply by Feb 28, 2027 for 2027 selection |
Before you apply: checklist for career changers
- Residency: confirm you meet the program’s rule (see the finder above).
- School records: a high school diploma or GED and one year of algebra are the common minimum. Local 3 wants an official transcript after selection; source Watertown asks for two full years of high school math, one of them algebra (with exceptions for verified electrical trade hours), and wants your transcript and a resume uploaded with the application. source
- Driver’s license: Buffalo, Geneva, Binghamton and Elmira require a valid NYS driver’s license. sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Drug test and physical: several programs require both after selection, at the sponsor’s expense. sources: 1, 2
- Veterans: Binghamton, Elmira and Watertown ask for your DD-214, if applicable, after selection. sources: 1, 2, 3
- Test prep: know which aptitude test and cutoff your program uses (programs table below).
- Budget: the fee, transport to the test and job sites, and tools (about US$300 over the program at Geneva). source
Routes compared
| Route | Who it fits | Test to get in | Cost to you | Years | Pay while learning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBEW/NECA apprenticeship, New York City (JIB Local 3) | Lived 2+ years within 60 miles of Columbus Circle | NJATC/AIR aptitude test, 3 or higher source | US$25 application fee; you may ask for a waiver source | 5.5 source | US$19.25 an hour in year 1 on covered NYC prevailing wage work (July 1, 2026) source |
| IBEW/NECA apprenticeship, upstate and Long Island (Buffalo, Rochester, Geneva, Syracuse area, Ithaca, Binghamton, Elmira, Albany area, Watertown, Long Island) | Residents of that program’s area (Watertown’s notice sets no residency rule) source | NJATC/AIR or Electrical Trades aptitude test; published cutoffs 4 to 5 of 9 sources: 1, 2, 3 | US$10 to US$22 test fee where charged, waivable sources: 1, 2, 3, 4 | 5 at Rochester and Tri-City sources: 1, 2 | A percentage of the journeyman rate; the programs do not post the dollar figure source |
| Westchester-Fairfield JEATC (IBEW Local 3) | Lived 2+ years within 60 miles of White Plains | Electrical Trades Aptitude Test (cutoff: see the programs table) source | US$25 application fee, waivable; no classroom fee sources: 1, 2 | 5.5 source | US$16.50 an hour in year 1 (last published on the July 2025 to June 2026 sheet; not confirmed for 2026 to 2027) source |
| USIS Electric (non-union registered apprenticeship) | Residents of Orange, Putnam, Rockland or Westchester County, or Bergen County, NJ | The 2026 notice names no test source | NYS DOL: training is usually offered by the sponsor at no cost to the apprentice source | NYS DOL electrician outline: 5 years source | Set by the sponsor; not published source |
| ABC Empire State and contractor programs (non-union) | People hired by an ABC member or a sponsoring contractor | ABC entry is through a member employer source | NYS DOL: usually no cost to the apprentice source | NYS DOL electrician outline: 5 years source | Set by the employer; not published |
| Work under a licensed master, no registered program (NYC) | People already working for a licensed NYC electrical contractor | Set by the employer | None published | 7 years within the last 10 (2 in NYC) before you can sit the NYC master exam source | Set by the employer |
New York license and certification details
| Category | Experience | Classroom | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYC Master Electrician: works as an independent contractor anywhere in NYC source | Age 18+, able to read and write English, fit to do the work, good moral character. Then one of: (1) 7 years within the last 10 under a licensed master or special electrician, 2 of them in NYC; (2) a completed NYS DOL-registered apprenticeship plus 5 years within the last 10, 2 in NYC; (3) a qualifying bachelor’s degree plus 3 years within the last 5, 2 in NYC; (4) electrical inspection work credited at 50%, capped at 2.5 years, with the rest of the 7 years under a licensed electrician. To hold the license you must be an officer, partner or sole proprietor of a business with general liability, workers’ compensation and disability insurance source | Part of route (2): a completed registered apprenticeship (NYS DOL outline: at least 180 classroom hours a year) source | Written: multiple choice on NYC Electrical Code and rules, no references, 70% to pass. Practical within 24 months of the written result. Background application within 1 year of the practical result; pick up the card within 1 year of approval source | Written US$585, practical US$530 source; license US$310 and original seal US$50; license term 1 year DOB fee page |
| NYC Special Electrician: works on specific buildings, lots or parts of them source | Same qualifications; one DOB checklist covers both source | Same as Master | Same written and practical exams source | Same exam fees source |
| NYC renewal (1-year license term) source | At least 8 hours of DOB-approved continuing education, plus a new physical exam form within 90 days source | None | US$90 (US$60 license plus US$30 seal). Late renewal: US$400 on the renewal page, US$310 on the license fee page; confirm with DOB renewal page fee page | |
| Registered apprentice (statewide, NYS DOL) | About 8,200 on-the-job hours over 5 years source | At least 180 hours a year for each of the 5 years source | None from the state; each program sets its own entry test | NYS DOL Certificate of Completion when you finish source |
| Outside NYC | Set by your city, town or county | Set locally | Set locally | State pages refer to master electricians licensed by a municipality source |
The DOB checklist in force is Rev. 02/26. The 2025 New York City Electrical Code took full effect on December 21, 2025. source An older DOB form from 2015 that is still online says age 21 and 7.5 years; the current checklist says age 18 and 7 years. DOB page
Programs and their status on October 9, 2026
| Program | Metro | Test used | Status on Oct 9, 2026 | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIB / JAC IBEW Local 3 (300 apprentices) | New York City | NJATC/AIR aptitude test, 3 or higher | Opens Oct 19 Registered Mail requests postmarked Oct 19 to 30, 2026 | NYS DOL notice JIB notice |
| Long Island JATC (IBEW Local 25) | Nassau and Suffolk | NJATC/AIR aptitude test (cutoff not published), then interview | Closed Applications only during an NYS DOL recruitment period; none on the NYS DOL list on Oct 9, 2026 | source NYS DOL list |
| Westchester-Fairfield JEATC (IBEW Local 3, 15 apprentices) | Westchester and western Fairfield, CT | Electrical Trades Aptitude Test. 2026 NYS DOL recruitment notice: 6 of 9 required for an interview. The JIB page says 3 of 9. Plan for 6 and confirm with WFJEATC before you test. | Open July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Email WFJEATC@JIBEI.COM for an application | NYS DOL notice JIB page |
| Electricians JAC Buffalo (IBEW Local 41; 10 electrician and 4 housewire/residential) | Buffalo and Western NY | Electrical Trades aptitude test (cutoff not published) | Open Oct 7, 2026 to Sep 29, 2027. Pick up in person, Wednesdays 1 to 5 PM, Orchard Park; mail back within 30 days | NYS DOL notice |
| Rochester Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 86, 25 apprentices) | Rochester | NJATC Electrical Aptitude Test, 4 or higher out of 9; US$10 test fee | Open Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. Online only | NYS DOL notice JATC |
| Geneva Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 840, 10 apprentices) | Geneva; parts of Cayuga, Onondaga, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne; all of Yates | NJATC Electrical Aptitude Test, 4 or higher out of 9; US$10 test fee, waivable | Open Sep 11, 2026 to Sep 10, 2027. In person in Geneva, weekdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM | NYS DOL notice |
| Central New York Electrical Training Alliance (25 apprentices) | Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Oswego, Fulton | AIR Electrical Aptitude Test, stanine 5 or higher for an interview; US$20 test fee; scores valid 2 years | Open Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027. Online | NYS DOL notice CNYETA Q&A |
| Electricians JAC of Ithaca (Local 241, 12 apprentices) | Cayuga, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, Tompkins | No test named in the notice | Open Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. In person in Ithaca, weekdays 9 AM to 2 PM | NYS DOL notice |
| Electricians JAC Binghamton (IBEW Local 325, 15 apprentices) | Broome; parts of Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga | Electrical Trades Aptitude Test, 4 or higher out of 9 for an interview; US$22 test fee, waivable | Open Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027. Online | NYS DOL notice |
| Electricians JAC of Elmira (Local 139, 10 to 14 apprentices) | Chemung, Steuben; parts of Allegany, Schuyler, Tioga | Electrical trade aptitude test, 4 or higher out of 9 for an interview | Open Jan 9, 2026 to Jan 8, 2027. In person in Elmira, second Friday of each month | NYS DOL notice |
| Tri-City JATC | Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Rensselaer | ETA/AIR test, 5 or higher out of 9 for an interview | Open The site says applications are being accepted; no 2026 NYS DOL notice found | JATC qualifications |
| Electricians JATC of Watertown (Local 910, 20 apprentices) | Watertown and Plattsburgh application sites | Electrical trade’s aptitude test (cutoff not published). Requires two full years of high school math, one of them algebra, unless you can verify qualifying electrical trade experience | Open May 15, 2026 to Apr 14, 2027. Online, or in person on the first Monday of each month. Apply by Feb 28, 2027 for 2027 selection | NYS DOL notice |
| USIS Electric, Inc. (non-union, 24 apprentices) | Openings counted for Hudson Valley, Long Island and NYC. Applicants must live in Orange, Putnam, Rockland or Westchester County, or Bergen County, NJ | None named in the notice | Open May 11, 2026 to May 7, 2027. Apply in person in Pearl River | NYS DOL notice |
| ABC Empire State Chapter (non-union, multiple-employer program) | Offices statewide | Not published | Dates not posted Entry is through an ABC member employer | source |
IEC: IEC’s national chapter list shows no New York chapter (checked October 9, 2026). source Several NYC electrical contractors also run their own registered programs; search the NYS DOL active sponsor list by trade. source
Program names belong to their owners. The program’s own page is always the final word. Tsai Electro is an independent publisher, not an apprenticeship sponsor or a licensing authority.
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Pay from official sources
Read this first: the NYC figures are prevailing wage rates set for covered work under New York Labor Law section 220, not a promise for every job. Only apprentices registered in a NYS DOL program may be paid the apprentice rates. source Supplemental benefits are listed separately from the hourly wage. Upstate journeyman figures are federal Davis-Bacon rates for covered federal construction work, not statewide averages.
| Area / program | First-year apprentice (per hour) | Journeyman (per hour) | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, prevailing wage, Electrician classification (Local #3 on the schedule) | US$19.25 wage plus US$19.84 supplemental benefits (US$20.93 from April 15, 2027) | US$64.00 (Electrician “A”, regular day) plus US$70.28 supplemental | July 1, 2026 (2026 to 2027 schedules) | City: NYC Comptroller prevailing wage schedules apprentice journeyman |
| Westchester (WFJEATC / Local 3) | US$16.50 (last published on the July 2025 to June 2026 sheet; not confirmed for 2026 to 2027) | US$58.75; US$60.75 from April 14, 2027 | Apprentice: info sheet for 7/1/2025 to 6/30/2026, the latest on the JIB page on Oct 9, 2026. Journeyman: wage sheet effective April 15, 2026 | Program: JIB apprentice journeyman |
| Nassau / Suffolk | Not published | US$64.55 (fringe US$47.40) | Rate dated 04/26/2025 in a determination published 05/18/2026 | Federal Davis-Bacon determination source |
| Onondaga County (Syracuse) | Not published | US$50.50 (fringe US$35.03) | Rate dated 06/01/2025, published 05/18/2026 | Federal Davis-Bacon source |
| Albany area | Not published | US$48.00 (fringe US$32.09) | Rate dated 06/01/2024, published 05/18/2026; may be older than the current agreement | Federal Davis-Bacon source |
| Erie County (Buffalo) | Not published | US$44.50 (fringe US$36.06) | Rate dated 05/26/2025, published 05/18/2026 | Federal Davis-Bacon source |
| Monroe County (Rochester) | Not published | US$44.30 (fringe US$30.20) | Rate dated 05/26/2025, published 05/18/2026 | Federal Davis-Bacon source |
NYC apprentice ladder (same schedule, wage per hour from July 1, 2026): year 2 US$21.25, year 3 US$23.25, year 4 US$26.25, 5th term months 0 to 12 US$27.50, months 13 to 18 US$33.50. Supplemental benefit rates rise on April 15, 2027; the wage rates stay the same through June 30, 2027. source Upstate programs pay a percentage of the journeyman rate source but do not post apprentice dollar figures.
Costs and timeline
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Local 3 or WFJEATC application fee | US$25, non-refundable; you may ask for a waiver | sources: 1, 2 |
| Binghamton aptitude test fee | US$22, waivable with proof of financial need | source |
| CNYETA aptitude test fee | US$20, waivable | source |
| Rochester or Geneva aptitude test fee | US$10, waivable | sources: 1, 2 |
| Union classroom training | No fee at Tri-City and WFJEATC; NYS DOL says sponsors usually charge apprentices nothing | sources: 1, 2, 3 |
| Hand tools (Geneva notice) | About US$300 by the end of the program | source |
| Getting there | Several notices require reliable transportation; Geneva and Binghamton also require a valid NYS driver’s license | sources: 1, 2, 3 |
| NYC Master/Special written exam | US$585 | source |
| NYC Master/Special practical exam | US$530 | source |
| Social Security earnings statement for the DOB background check | Fee charged by the Social Security Administration (amount not stated by DOB) | source |
| NYC license and original seal | US$310 license plus US$50 original seal; license term 1 year | source |
| NYC renewal (yearly) | US$90 (US$60 license plus US$30 seal) plus 8 hours of continuing education. Late renewal fee: US$400 on the DOB renewal page but US$310 on the DOB license fee page, so confirm with DOB | sources: 1, 2 |
Timeline for the NYC union route:
- October 19 to 30, 2026: mail your Registered Mail request to the JAC. source
- January 2027: applications mailed out. source
- 2027: aptitude test, interview, ranking. The notices give no dates for these steps.
- Fall 2027 at the earliest: start work. source
- About five and a half years later: finish the apprenticeship (around 2033 if you start in fall 2027, our arithmetic). source
- NYC Master or Special: the DOB rule asks for a completed NYS DOL-registered apprenticeship plus at least 5 years of experience within the 10 years before you apply, 2 of them in NYC. Then both exams. The checklist does not say whether your apprenticeship years can count toward the 5, so confirm with DOB which experience periods qualify before you estimate your licensing date. source
Applying to Local 3 this October? It asks for 3 or higher on the NJATC/AIR aptitude test. Try the free timed practice.
U.S. Edition: 1,300 math and 216 reading questions, 6 timed simulations, interview prep and a guide to 49 JATCs. One payment, files yours to keep.
Check which aptitude test each JATC uses and compare first-year IBEW apprentice pay by local across the U.S. The official list of every current recruitment is the NYS DOL apprenticeship announcements page.
Questions people ask
Does New York have a statewide electrician license?
No. New York has no statewide journeyman license. Licensing is handled by cities and counties. In New York City, the Department of Buildings licenses Master and Special Electricians only, and apprentices work under a licensed master or special electrician. Outside NYC, check with your city, town or county.
How do I apply to IBEW Local 3 in October 2026?
Send a letter by Registered Mail only, postmarked October 19 to 30, 2026, to the Joint Apprentice Committee, 158-11 Harry Van Arsdale Jr Avenue, Flushing, NY 11365, with your printed name and mailing address. Certified Mail is not accepted. Up to 2,000 letters are accepted, plus every letter postmarked October 19. Keep your post office receipt. The NYS DOL notice also says applications must be postmarked by October 30, 2026, while the JIB notice says applications are mailed in January, so follow the JIB letter and confirm later deadlines with the JAC. Applications are mailed in January and nobody starts before fall 2027 (NYS DOL and JIB notices, checked October 9, 2026).
Which New York electrician apprenticeships are open right now?
As of October 9, 2026, these were taking applications: Buffalo Local 41, Rochester Local 86, Geneva Local 840, the Central New York Electrical Training Alliance, Ithaca Local 241, Binghamton Local 325, Elmira Local 139, Watertown Local 910, Tri-City JATC, Westchester-Fairfield JEATC and USIS Electric. IBEW Local 3 in NYC opens October 19, 2026. Long Island Local 25 had no 2026 recruitment notice.
What aptitude test score do New York electrician apprenticeships require?
It depends on the program. Local 3 NYC asks for 3 or higher on the NJATC/AIR test. Rochester, Geneva, Binghamton and Elmira ask for 4 or higher out of 9. The Central New York Electrical Training Alliance and Tri-City JATC interview at 5 or higher. For Westchester, the 2026 NYS DOL notice says 6 of 9 and the JIB page says 3 of 9, so confirm with WFJEATC. Local 25, Local 41 and Watertown do not publish a cutoff.
How much does a first-year electrician apprentice make in New York?
On covered public work in New York City, the NYC Comptroller prevailing wage schedule sets US$19.25 an hour for a first-year electrician apprentice, plus US$19.84 in supplemental benefits, from July 1, 2026. Only NYS DOL-registered apprentices may be paid that apprentice rate. Westchester’s first-year rate was US$16.50 an hour on the July 2025 to June 2026 program sheet; a 2026 to 2027 figure was not published on October 9, 2026. Upstate programs pay a percentage of the journeyman rate and do not post the dollar figure.
How long does it take to get a NYC Master Electrician license?
It depends on the route. The current DOB checklist (Rev. 02/26) accepts 7 years of qualifying experience within the last 10 under a licensed master or special electrician, or a completed NYS DOL-registered apprenticeship plus 5 qualifying years within the last 10, or a qualifying bachelor’s degree plus 3 qualifying years within the last 5. Each route needs at least 2 years of NYC experience. The checklist does not say whether apprenticeship years can count toward the 5, so confirm with DOB. Then you pass a written exam (US$585, 70% to pass) and a practical exam (US$530) within 24 months.
Is there a non-union electrician apprenticeship in New York?
Yes. USIS Electric runs a NYS DOL-registered program open from May 11, 2026 to May 7, 2027 for 24 apprentices. You must live in Orange, Putnam, Rockland or Westchester County, or Bergen County, NJ, and apply in person in Pearl River. ABC Empire State Chapter runs a registered multiple-employer program entered through a member employer. IEC’s chapter list shows no New York chapter.
Change log
October 9, 2026: page published; every fact from the state agency, NYC agency or program’s own page, checked October 9, 2026. October 9, 2026 (review round 1): added Ithaca, Geneva, Binghamton, Elmira and Watertown programs, a quick facts table and a program finder; corrected USIS residency; clarified NYC license routes and prevailing wage pay. October 9, 2026 (review round 2): labeled the Westchester apprentice rate as last published for 2025 to 2026; flagged the NYS DOL versus JIB deadline wording for Local 3; added Watertown math rules, a what-to-do-this-week block and the NYS DOL Direct Entry route. October 9, 2026 (review round 3): added NYC seal fees, the 1-year license term and the late-fee conflict from the DOB pages; cited the 2019 demand figure to the JIB notice; led the Westchester cutoff with the 2026 NYS DOL figure; linked NYS DOL Direct Entry. Next re-checks: during the Local 3 window (October 19 to 30, 2026) and on October 31, 2026, after it closes. Spot an error? Email hello@tsaielectro.com and we correct it within 48 hours.
