Frequently Asked Questions about the Greater Boston JATC
What is the Greater Boston JATC?
What types of programs does the Greater Boston JATC offer?
How does the apprenticeship program work?
What kind of facilities does the Greater Boston JATC offer?
What are the benefits of becoming an apprentice through the Greater Boston JATC Training Program?
What are the requirements to apply to the Greater Boston JATC Training Program?
What are the credentials of the Greater Boston JATC Training Program?
What kinds of projects have Greater Boston JATC apprentices worked on?
What is the Greater Boston JATC?
One of the highest-rated and most prestigious apprenticeship programs in the country, the Boston Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) Training Program was created jointly by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103, and the Greater Boston Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) with one goal — to produce the most highly skilled and professional electricians and technicians in the industry.
For over 100 years, Boston NECA and IBEW Local 103 have worked together to achieve better wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members. Today, IBEW Local 103 and Boston NECA represent approximately 200 major electrical contracting firms employing over 5,000 workers in the Greater Boston area. The Greater Boston JATC is currently training 700 apprentices in its five-year Electrical Construction Program, and over 175 apprentices in its five-year Telecommunications Program.
What types of programs does the Greater Boston JATC offer?
The Greater Boston JATC Training Program offers a five-year Electrical Construction Program and a five-year Telecommunications Program—both designed to shape apprentices into well-rounded electricians and technicians, expert in the complete scope of their chosen field.
Over the course of the five-year Electrical Construction Program, apprentices undergo 10,000 hours of on-the-job training with experienced journeypersons, plus 1,000 hours of intensive classroom instruction with qualified instructors. Through this rigorous training, Electrical Construction apprentices leave the program knowledgeable in the full scope of their field. In the five-year Telecommunications Program, apprentices complete over 1,000 hours of classroom instruction and 10,000 hours of on-the-job training before graduating as fully-qualified and certified technicians/installers.
How does the apprenticeship program work?
As an apprentice electrician or technician enrolled in the Greater Boston JATC Training Program, you work during the day on actual job sites where experienced journeypersons teach you the trade. One day per week, you attend classes in the cutting-edge classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratories of the Greater Boston JATC Training Center. This apprenticeship system enables you to receive full-time pay while gaining the experience and skills necessary to succeed as an electrician or technician.
What kind of facilities does the Greater Boston JATC offer?
The Greater Boston JATC Training Center offers 56,000 square feet of facilities that include thirteen classrooms, eleven shops, three computer labs, a drafting room, seminar rooms, administrative and student areas, and an auditorium.
What are the benefits of becoming an apprentice through the Greater Boston JATC Training Program?
The Greater Boston JATC Apprenticeship Program offers a full range of benefits, from the financial to the personal:
- Unlimited advancement opportunities
- Membership in a community that takes pride in its work and supports its members
- The opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals
- The chance to work on the most exciting, important projects in Boston
- Work that challenges mind and body
- Respect and recognition
- Healthy, cooperative workplace
- State-of-the-art, paid training
- Fair treatment and safe working conditions
- Job security
- Great benefits such as comprehensive health insurance and pension plans
- Excellent wages
What are the requirements to apply to the Greater Boston JATC Training Program?
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside within the IBEW Local 103 geographical jurisdiction (Greater Metropolitan Boston). Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, with one year of high school algebra with passing grade or equivalent. Applicants must be in good health and be self motivated, have excellent communication skills, and work well with others. For the Electrical Program, applicants must receive a high score on an aptitude test.
What are the credentials of the Greater Boston JATC Training Program?
The Greater Boston JATC Training Program is accredited by several state and federal agencies, such as the Massachusetts State Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the U.S. Department of Labor. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with aggressive Affirmative Action standards.
What kinds of projects have Greater Boston JATC apprentices worked on?
Boston NECA/IBEW Local 103 electricians and technicians have put their skills and expertise to work on challenging projects throughout Eastern Massachusetts. The following are just a few of the projects featuring the quality craftsmanship of NECA/IBEW Local 103 electricians and technicians