For most union electrical apprenticeships, the aptitude test is the first real hurdle. Its format is public, but almost everything around it, from the qualifying score to the retest rule, depends on your local.

This guide covers the format, what happens after you test, how non-union tests compare, and eight original practice questions. Electrician Authority is an independent resource. We are not affiliated with the IBEW, NECA, or the electrical training ALLIANCE, and the practice questions here are our own, not from the test.

What is the IBEW aptitude test?

It is the entrance test for most IBEW and NECA electrical apprenticeships. The test is published by the electrical training ALLIANCE, the training arm of the union electrical industry and formerly called the NJATC. The Kansas City JATC describes it as an aptitude test developed and validated by the American Institutes for Research.

Each local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) gives the test and decides what to do with the results. The ALLIANCE says the test is given “if required,” and some locals now use a different test from GAN.

IBEW aptitude test format at a glance

These figures come from the ALLIANCE’s application process page.

Section	Questions	Time	What it measures
Algebra and Functions	33	46 minutes	Solving problems using algebra
Reading Comprehension	36	51 minutes	Getting information from written passages

• No calculator. You must remove a watch with a built-in calculator.
• No penalty for guessing. Your score is the number of questions you answer correctly, so answer every one.
• About two and a half hours of testing, with a short break between the sections. Plan on about three hours at the test center.
• Bring a photo ID. The ALLIANCE’s rule is “No ID, No Test, No Exceptions!” Pencils and other materials are provided.
• Your local JATC receives results about two to four weeks after the test and notifies you.

If you need a testing accommodation for a disability, the ALLIANCE asks you to tell the JATC early and provide documentation.

What each section covers

Algebra and Functions

This is high school algebra worked by hand. The ALLIANCE’s free sample questions include evaluating a formula, recognizing equivalent expressions, and finding the next number in a pattern. If you are rusty, practice order of operations, solving for a variable, multiplying out parentheses, and simple functions. Our article on whether electricians need to be good at math explains why programs ask for a year of algebra.

Reading Comprehension

You read passages and answer questions about them. The right answer is always supported by the text. The ALLIANCE notes that its sample passage is shorter than the ones on the test, so practice reading longer material at a steady pace.

Before you test: the usual requirements

The ALLIANCE lists these basics. Your local may add more.

• Meet the program’s minimum age.
• One full year of high school algebra with a passing grade, or one post-high school algebra course with a passing grade.
• A high school diploma, a GED, or a two-year associate degree.
• Local requirements. IBEW Local 3 in New York City requires residency within a 60-mile radius of Columbus Circle, and the NW Line JATC asks lineman applicants for a Class A commercial driver’s license, first aid and CPR, and flagging certification.

If you are missing the algebra credit, the ALLIANCE suggests its online Tech Math course at SkillsPrep, and some programs accept a tech math course in place of high school algebra.

What happens after the test

At programs that follow the ALLIANCE process, a qualifying score leads to an oral interview with a committee representing both NECA and the IBEW. Based on the interview and a review of your qualifications, you receive an overall ranking. Your name then goes on an eligibility list for two years, and applicants are called in ranking order as positions open. If you are not selected in that time, you reapply.

So the test is a gate, not the final word: at most programs, the interview and your qualifications decide your rank.

Qualifying scores

Each local sets its own. Local 3’s 2026 recruitment notice asks for a qualifying score of 3 or above, and the NW Line JATC asks for a 3 or higher to move on to the interview round. Other programs may ask for more, so ask your local before you test.

Retakes

The ALLIANCE’s application page gives two wordings. Its question-and-answer section says you may retake the test after three months (90 days) from your most recent test date. Another paragraph says that “the six-month rule remains in effect after each subsequent retake.” It also warns that willful attempts to break the rule may result in permanent disqualification. Local rules differ too, so confirm the waiting period with your local before you schedule a retest.

Local rules vary: five examples

From each program’s own page, November 2026. Check the source before you apply.

Program	What stands out	Source
IBEW Local 3, New York City	Recruitment ran October 19–30, 2026 for 300 apprentices. Applications by Registered Mail only; $25 fee, which can be waived for financial need; qualifying score of 3	NYS Department of Labor
JATC 26, Washington, DC area	$125 processing fee; the 2027 cycle closes December 31, 2026, or at 4,200 applications; a GAN Personal Experience Form takes the place of an interview	JATC 26
Kansas City JATC, Local 124	Online applications only during the first 7 days of each month; $25 fee; 4,000 documented electrical construction hours can stand in for the test	KC JATC
NW Line JATC (outside lineman)	Score of 3 or higher to interview; retest every three months; CDL Class A required	NW Line JATC
Minneapolis JATC	Uses the GAN test; retake only after one year on the eligibility list	Minneapolis JATC

The GAN test is a different battery. The Minneapolis JATC lists reading, numerical skills, paper folding, problem solving, and mechanical comprehension, so if your local uses GAN, prepare for those sections instead.

Non-union and utility entrance tests

There is no national non-union test. Each chapter or program chooses its own, and many allow a calculator.

• IEC Greater St. Louis gives a math exam with a stated passing score of 78%, and staff provides a calculator and a formula sheet. Applicants who fall short can take a $100 online math program.
• IEC of the Bluegrass gives a 65-question screen covering reading comprehension, basic algebra, and geometry, and notes that it is not an employer, so you still need a contractor to hire you.
• IEC Oregon requires ACT WorkKeys scores in Applied Math, Workplace Documents, and Graphic Literacy, followed by a recorded online interview.
• ABC of Wisconsin accepts ACCUPLACER scores of 239 in reading and 237 in arithmetic for electrical, or ACT scores of 15 in reading and math.
• Utilities that hire line workers directly often use EEI’s CAST test. Ameren’s description says it takes about two and a half hours, with four timed tests and one break, and that speed and accuracy matter equally.

How to prepare

• Work through the ALLIANCE’s sample questions, then check your answers with its key.
• Brush up on algebra with a free course such as Khan Academy’s algebra lessons, or the ALLIANCE’s Tech Math course.
• Practice without a calculator, and time yourself. Forty-six minutes for 33 algebra questions is under a minute and a half each.
• For reading, practice answering only from what the passage says, not from what you already know.
• Prepare for the interview too, since it usually decides your rank. Be ready to explain why you want the trade and what experience you bring.

Paid prep courses and books exist too. None is official, and online access often expires, so check before you buy.

Try eight practice questions

These are original questions written by the Electrician Authority Editorial Team, not questions from the test. Work them without a calculator, then check the answers below. For a full-length, timed version, take our free IBEW aptitude practice test.

Algebra and Functions

1. A rectangle’s perimeter is P = 2(L + W). What is P when L = 9 and W = 4?
   A. 22
   B. 26
   C. 30
   D. 36
2. Solve for x: 3x − 7 = 11.
   A. 4
   B. 6
   C. 8
   D. 18
3. Which expression is equivalent to (x − 4)(x + 3)?
   A. x² − x − 12
   B. x² + x − 12
   C. x² − 7x − 12
   D. x² − x + 12
4. What is the next number in the pattern 3, 6, 12, 24, …?
   A. 30
   B. 36
   C. 48
   D. 72
5. The formula d = rt relates distance, rate, and time. Which formula gives t?
   A. t = dr
   B. t = d − r
   C. t = r ÷ d
   D. t = d ÷ r
6. If f(x) = x² − 2x, what is f(5)?
   A. 5
   B. 10
   C. 15
   D. 35

Reading Comprehension

Read the passage, then answer questions 7 and 8. It draws on the National Apprenticeship Act and the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship page.

Before 1937, apprenticeship in the United States had no national standard. Each employer, union, or trade group set its own rules, so the length of training and what an apprentice learned could differ widely from one program to the next. The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937, often called the Fitzgerald Act, changed that. It directed the Department of Labor to promote standards that protect the welfare of apprentices and to bring employers and labor together to form programs. A program that registers agrees to meet those standards, and its graduates earn a portable credential recognized nationwide.

7. What is the main idea of the passage?
   A. Apprenticeship programs are no longer common in the United States.
   B. A 1937 law led to national standards for apprenticeship programs.
   C. Employers still set the rules for every apprenticeship program.
   D. The Department of Labor runs every apprenticeship program.
8. According to the passage, what do graduates of a registered program earn?
   A. A state electrician license
   B. A guaranteed job with their employer
   C. Free college credit
   D. A portable credential recognized nationwide

Answers and explanations

Show the answers and explanations

• 1. B. Add inside the parentheses first: 9 + 4 = 13. Then multiply: 2 × 13 = 26.
• 2. B. Add 7 to both sides to get 3x = 18, then divide both sides by 3: x = 6.
• 3. A. Multiply each term: x × x = x², x × 3 = 3x, −4 × x = −4x, and −4 × 3 = −12. Combine 3x and −4x to get −x.
• 4. C. Each number is double the one before it, so the next number is 24 × 2 = 48.
• 5. D. Divide both sides of d = rt by r. That leaves t on its own: t = d ÷ r.
• 6. C. Replace x with 5: 5² − 2(5) = 25 − 10 = 15.
• 7. B. The passage describes training before 1937, then explains how the 1937 law brought standards. The other choices are either contradicted by the passage or only partially supported.
• 8. D. The last sentence says graduates of a registered program earn a portable credential recognized nationwide. The passage never mentions licenses, jobs, or college credit, so those choices go beyond what it says.

How to apply, step by step

1. Find your local training center with the ALLIANCE’s training center locator.
2. Read that program’s application page for its dates, fees, and requirements, and find out which test it uses.
3. Gather your documents: photo ID, diploma or GED, and an official transcript showing your algebra credit.
4. Apply during the open window and schedule your test as early as you can.
5. Study with the free sample questions and timed, calculator-free practice.
6. Take the test, then wait for your local JATC to contact you.
7. If you qualify, prepare for the interview or questionnaire.

For the bigger picture, including union and non-union routes, see our guide on how to become an apprentice electrician.

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

The IBEW aptitude test is short and predictable. What varies is everything around it: which test your local uses, the score it requires, and how it ranks applicants. Read your local’s application page, practice by hand on the ALLIANCE’s sample questions and the ones above, and prepare for the interview too. Godspeed!

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Electrician Authority is not affiliated with the IBEW, NECA, the electrical training ALLIANCE, GAN, or any apprenticeship program. Test formats, qualifying scores, fees, and retest rules change and differ by program. Confirm current requirements with your local apprenticeship program before you apply or test.