IBEW Local 11 is the Los Angeles local, one of the largest in the country, and for most people the way in is the inside wireman apprenticeship. It’s a five-year, earn-while-you-learn program run through the local’s training arm, and it turns people with no trade experience into journeyman electricians on some of the biggest jobs in LA.
This is a walk-through of how to apply as an apprentice, plus a section at the end for experienced electricians who already hold a journeyman card and want to work under Local 11.
One thing to keep in mind throughout: the specifics here, especially application dates, change constantly, so treat this as your map and confirm the current details with the training institute before you act.
Who Runs the Local 11 Apprenticeship?
The apprenticeship is run through the Los Angeles Electrical Training Institute, often written as LAETT or ETI, in Commerce, California. It’s the joint training operation of IBEW Local 11 and the Los Angeles County chapter of NECA, the contractors’ association. LAETT handles applications, testing, and the full five years of training.
That’s your source of truth for anything current. When you want real dates and requirements, go to the training institute directly rather than trusting a secondhand account, because the process and especially the timing move around.
The Most Important Thing: The Application Window
Here’s what trips up most Local 11 hopefuls, so read this part twice.
Applications are accepted online only, and only during specific application windows a few times a year. There’s no walking in to register whenever you’re ready. If the window isn’t open, you can’t apply.
The Electrical Training Institute runs those windows on a roughly quarterly cadence, with periods opening in January, April, July, and October. Each one stays open until 2,000 applications have been received, and then it closes, whether or not the posted end date has arrived. Exact dates shift every cycle, so check the institute’s own listing for the window you’re aiming at rather than working off last year’s calendar.
What that means for you in practice: know when the next window opens, have every document ready before it does, and apply the moment it goes live. Waiting even a day or two can mean waiting for the next cycle. This is the single biggest difference between people who get in and people who keep meaning to.
Apprenticeship Requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | You must be at least 18. |
| High school diploma or GED | Proof of completion is required. |
| One year of algebra | One full year of high-school algebra (or a higher-level math course) with a passing grade. Transcripts prove it. |
| Valid driver’s license | Required, and you’ll need reliable transportation to job sites across LA. |
| Documentation ready | Because the window can close early, have every document scanned and ready before you start the application, not after. |
No trade experience is required, and there’s no upper age limit. This is a genuine entry point, not something reserved for people who already know the trade.
The Application Process, Step by Step
- Watch for the window. Check the training institute’s site for the next application period and its exact dates.
- Get your documents ready first. Transcripts, ID, proof of graduation and algebra, all scanned and on hand before the window opens.
- Apply online the moment it opens. Submit through the institute’s online application during the open window. Don’t wait, since the window can close once the application cap is reached.
- Complete the aptitude test. Qualified applicants are scheduled for the GAN aptitude test. More on what that covers below.
- Interview and ranking. From there you move through the selection steps the local uses to rank applicants and make offers.
The exact sequence and timing after you apply can vary, and the institute will tell you what comes next after your application is reviewed. That’s another reason to treat their instructions as the final word.
The GAN Aptitude Test
Local 11 uses the GAN aptitude test rather than the standard IBEW exam. That distinction matters more than it might sound, because most of the free prep material floating around online is written for the standard IBEW test, and it won’t fully cover what you actually sit down to.
Here’s the short version of what to expect. The GAN is a timed exam split into separate sections, and it reaches wider than the IBEW test does. Alongside math and reading comprehension, it tests spatial reasoning, mechanical comprehension, and problem solving. Each section is timed on its own and the pacing is unforgiving, so getting comfortable working at speed matters as much as knowing the material.
For the full section-by-section breakdown and how to prepare for each one, read our GAN aptitude test study guide.
Confirm the current process with the institute when you apply. Locals do revise how they select applicants, and the institute is the only source that’s current.
Already a Journeyman? Joining Local 11 With a Card
If you’re already a working electrician, the apprenticeship isn’t your path. You don’t apply to a training program; you come in as a journeyman and go to work.
There are generally two ways experienced electricians end up under Local 11. If you’re an IBEW member from another local, you can travel into LA’s jurisdiction and work Local 11 calls, typically by getting on the local’s referral (out-of-work) list and taking calls as work comes available. If you’re a non-union electrician already working in the trade, the path in is through organizing: Local 11 actively brings experienced electricians into the union, and the local can walk you through how your experience translates and what steps get you a card.
Local 11’s own site has a track specifically for experienced electricians who want to put their skills to work with union pay and benefits. That’s the door to knock on, and the fastest way to get real answers is to contact the local directly about your situation, since it depends on your current status and hours.
The Rule That Applies to Everyone
Whether you’re applying as an apprentice or coming in as a journeyman, the same principle holds: the details change, and the local is the only source that’s never out of date.
Application windows move. Requirements get updated. The steps after you apply get revised. Before you do anything, confirm the current specifics with the Electrical Training Institute or with Local 11 directly, and follow their instructions as they stand today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I apply to IBEW Local 11?
You apply online through the Electrical Training Institute (LAETT) during one of its designated application windows. Applications are accepted online only, and windows can close early once an application cap is reached, so have your documents ready and apply as soon as the window opens.
When can I apply to Local 11?
Only during the training institute’s open application windows, which happen a few times a year. Dates change every cycle, so check the institute’s site for the next window rather than relying on last year’s schedule.
What are the requirements for the Local 11 apprenticeship?
Generally you must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED, have completed one year of algebra with a passing grade, and hold a valid driver’s license. No prior trade experience is required, and there’s no upper age limit.
Can I join Local 11 if I’m already an electrician?
Yes, but not through the apprenticeship. Experienced electricians come in as journeymen, either by traveling in from another IBEW local and taking calls off the referral list, or, if you’re currently non-union, through Local 11’s organizing process. Contact the local directly to find out how your experience and hours translate.
Is the Local 11 apprenticeship online or in person?
The application is online only. The training itself is in person, combining classroom instruction at the Electrical Training Institute with paid on-the-job work across Los Angeles.
Ready to Apply?
Local 11 is one of the strongest electrical apprenticeships in the country, and getting in comes down to preparation and timing. Know when the window opens, have your documents ready before it does, and apply immediately.
If you’re already in the trade, skip the apprenticeship and reach out to the local about coming in on your card. Either way, the next step is the same: go to the source, confirm what’s current, and move when the door opens.
