Electrician Apprentice HQ #1 Online Resource For Becoming An Electrician 
Last updated on October 22nd, 2026.
The ABC Electrical Apprenticeship is part of Associated Builders and Contractors, a nationwide network with 70 chapters and 21,000 members.
ABC also trains people for other trades.
They have programs that teach plumbing, carpentry, HVAC, masonry and sheet metal as well.
The electrical program combines paid work with classroom training.
How the ABC Electrical Apprenticeship Works
ABC Electrical Apprenticeship is an approved training program with the Department of Licensing.
If you’re a veteran, ABC can help file the correct paperwork for assistance in Veteran’s Administration benefits.
The electrical apprenticeship is career education combining extensive on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. In most apprenticeships, the programs only last four years.
During this time the electrician apprentice works under the supervision and guidance of a licensed electrician.
Many of the ABC electrical apprenticeship classes are held at night so apprentices can work full time and earn a wage while in school.
An apprentice’s pay generally starts at about 50 percent of an experienced electrician and increases throughout the apprenticeship.
ABC apprentices must receive a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction each year.
ABC Apprenticeship Admission Requirements
- You must be at least 18 years old
- A high school diploma or GED is required
- Be in a (relatively) good physical condition
- Have dependable transportation
Once you meet the requirements, submit your signed application and enrollment deposit. The deposit amount depends on the chapter.
The instructors at ABC are NCCER certified and have experience working in the electrical industry.
The electrical apprenticeship is a four-year program that covers just about everything you’ll find in the electrical trade.
The program is broken down by year of training with a specific order of instruction.
First Year Apprenticeship
Course topics will include:
- Basic Safety
- Introduction to Construction Math
- Introduction to Hand Tools
- Introduction to Power Tools
- Introduction to Blueprints
- Basic Rigging
- Electrical Safety
- Hand Bending
- Fasteners and Anchors
- Electrical Theory One
- Electrical Theory Two
- Electrical Test Equipment
- Introduction to the National Electrical Code
- Raceways
- Boxes
- Fittings
- Conductors
- Introduction to Electrical Blueprints
- Wiring – Commercial, Industrial and Residential.
Second Year Apprenticeship
Course topics will include:
- Alternating Current
- Motors (such as an induction motor or squirrel cage motor)
- Theory and Application
- Grounding
- Conduit Bending
- Boxes and Fittings
- Conductor Installations
- Cable Tray
- Conduction Terminations and Splices
- Installation of Electric Services
- Circuit Breakers and Fuses
- Conductors and Relays
- Electric Lighting
Third Year Apprenticeship
Course topics include:
- Load Calculations – Branch Circuits
- Conductor Selection and Calculations
- Over Current Protection
- Raceway
- Box and Fitting Fill Requirements
- Wiring Devices
- Distribution Equipment
- Distribution System Transformers
- Lamps
- Ballasts and Components
Fourth Year Apprenticeship
Course topics include:
- Load Calculations: Feeder and Services
- Practical Applications of Lighting
- Standby and Emergency Systems
- Basic Electronic Theory
- Fire Alarm Systems
- Specialty Transformers
- Advanced Controls
- HVAC Controls
- Welding Machines
- Heat Tracing and Freeze Protection
- Motor Maintenance
- High Voltage Terminations/Splices
Upon completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices are encouraged to take the electrician licensing exam and become Journeyman electrician.
There is another certification apprentices can earn from the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The NCCER is a national registry used by contractors who hire skilled workers.
The certification assessment is through the National Craft Assessment and Certification Program (NCACP). The NCACP evaluates journey-level skills and knowledge of professionals.
Download the assessment overview here: NCCER Craft Assessment
Credentials include certified, performance verified and certified a plus. They give employers evidence of a craft professional’s skills and knowledge, along with their commitment to continued learning.
An NCACP certification shows future employers that you have the knowledge and skills to work in the trade. For employers, that means higher quality craftsmanship and more cost-effective work.
About ABC Electricians School
Seven contractors founded ABC in 1970 to support awarding construction projects on merit. Their aim was for the most qualified contractors to win work while maintaining profitability and safety standards.
The organization aims to help people develop and win profitable work while holding members to high safety standards.
Within the ABC electrical apprenticeship, you will hear the term “craft person”.
A craft person is someone who has demonstrated the necessary skills and passed the licensing exam to become a professional in their line of work.
You can find an ABC Electrical Apprenticeship Program near you by clicking here.
