America’s power demand is increasing at a staggering rate, requiring more infrastructure and, with that, the workforce to ensure it is built, tested, and maintained to the highest standards. However, this is at odds with America’s shrinking labor market, a problem previously highlighted by Steve Park in his NETA World article titled “Workforce Development for NETA Testing Companies.”[1] This deficit will be further compounded by an entire generation set to be fully within their retirement window by 2030 (U.S. Census, 2019).[2]
How does a growing critical industry build, develop, and maintain a workforce in a shrinking labor market? As with many highly technical fields, the answer is an effective apprenticeship program. Now, the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have partnered to bring this answer to fruition for NETA Accredited Companies (NACs).
NETA and the U.S. DOL have worked together to ensure a program that has been vetted by electrical testing industry experts and the federal governing body for apprenticeships, bringing together the rigor and excellence needed by the electrical testing industry, while ensuring adaptability for each NAC’s unique position.
A few questions remain:
- What are the benefits of an apprenticeship?
- How is NETA supporting the apprenticeship program?
- How do I start an apprenticeship program?
THE BENEFITS OF AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Apprenticeship programs have been a tried-and-true method of enhancing an industry workforce since 1937. This sentiment rings true today with the U.S. Department of Labor hosting over 27,000 registered apprenticeship programs across 1,200 disciplines (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022).[3] Between 2015 and 2025, the number of apprentices enrolled in a registered program has increased by 93.72% (Table 1). With so many companies opting to sponsor apprenticeships, what benefits are they receiving?
A Dependable and Competent Talent Pipeline
The current supply of NETA-certified technicians is uniquely precarious, even compared to other highly skilled careers.
As Fiona W. (2025)[5] put it: NETA accreditation requires not just electrical engineering knowledge but specialized training in high-voltage testing, relay protection systems, and commissioning protocols that can mean the difference between reliable power and catastrophic outages. Industry analysts describe the certified technician pipeline as experiencing a ‘supply chain crisis’ of human capital — a scarcity that translates directly into pricing power and competitive moats…
Having programs in place to ensure these demands are met is key to driving forward in a growing industry.
An apprenticeship program addresses this issue in two ways:
- First, it provides a vetted and approved framework for how your apprentices will be trained through a four-year program with a hybrid learning approach of on-the-job training (OJT) and classroom instruction, also known as related instruction (RI). This structure ensures apprentices learn the necessary skills and achieve specific knowledge checks throughout the program.
- Second, it provides additional exposure through federal and state resources to fill vacancies in your apprenticeship program and in your company. Lockheed Martin expressed the advantages apprenticeships have had for their company, especially in gaining exposure to a population of young adults who may not be seeking traditional four-year degree programs, enabling them to tap into another avenue for recruiting future talent (Apprenticeship.gov, 2017).[6].
Reduced Cost to Train New Technicians
NACs are not only working with a limited pool of new technicians but also with the burden of providing the highest quality technical and safety training. Depending on a technician’s knowledge before joining a NAC, education costs can range from $1,500 to over $10,000. Companies that have a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) will have access to a multitude of resources available to them at the federal and state levels. These resources can range from grants directly to training costs of an apprenticeship program, to tax incentives to reduce a company’s burden of training a new employee (Apprenticeship USA).[7]
NETA’s ROLLOUT AND SUPPORT
Over the last 10 years, NETA’s Training Committee has worked to create an outline that captures rigorous adherence to safety and technical capability, while also allowing the necessary customization that may be needed for NETA’s various members. Ultimately, it leads to the Electrical Testing Engineering Technician Apprenticeship category, with an approved outline known as a National Guideline to Apprenticeship Standards (NGS).
What Is the National Guideline to Apprenticeship Standards (NGS)?
An NGS is a template of high-quality apprenticeship program standards submitted by a trade, industry association, or other organization with national scope. Companies or organizations that choose to adopt NGS as their apprenticeship program may register with a state or local affiliate as long as they meet any additional requirements. When adopting the NGS, the company or organization may choose to modify or use an unmodified version of the NGS (ApprenticeshipUSA, 2022).[8] The NGS will give NACs the ability to meet the standards of becoming an electrical technician, adapting to their company’s needs or to the specific requirements of their state, while also having direct input in managing their apprentices.
Where Does the NETA Apprenticeship Program Currently Stand?
The NETA NGS (Appendix A) is fully available for your company to begin the sponsorship process with the U.S. Department of Labor and your state’s apprenticeship office. Having a complete outline will allow for an expedited sponsorship application process. At a minimum, a company applying for apprenticeship sponsorship should expect to complete a boilerplate, which is the overarching application document, and cover Form ETA 671 for the apprenticeship agreement between the company and the apprentice. To acquire a copy of the NGS document (Appendix A), contact NETA’s Training Program Manager. Several member companies are already in the review process, waiting for final approval to begin recruiting the first generation of Electrical Testing Engineering Apprentices.
NETA is continuously seeking new learning opportunities to help members achieve the related instruction for apprenticeship requirements. These resources include quality distance-learning options through NETA’s online bookstore and learning management system (LMS) or training partners, traditional learning institutions, or industry-led instruction. The goal is to assist NACs in finding a learning partner or pathway that best fits their needs.
WHAT’S NEXT?
NETA intends to continue to provide continuous value to its members, including training offerings related to the apprenticeship. These offerings include increased online training offerings through NETA’s bookstore with our approved training partners, linking members to industry-leading training that meets apprenticeship requirements, or assisting our members in finding institutional learning partners.
CONCLUSION
As the electrical testing industry continues to grow at an exponential pace, so too must its workforce. NETA is helping the industry address this growth with its National Guideline of Apprenticeship Standards for an Electrical Testing Engineering Technician Apprenticeship. This program will provide NETA Accredited Companies with additional exposure through federal, state, and local resources, a professionally reviewed outline that has been directly compared with testing standards, and by opening the opportunity for these companies to apply for federal and state financial opportunities to supplement the burden of training the next generation of electrical testing technicians.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the Electrical Testing Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, have any additional questions, or have any recommendations, please contact NETA Training Program Manager Robert Harriman at Rharriman@NETAworld.org.
REFERENCES
- Steve Park. “Workforce Development for NETA Testing Companies, NETA WORLD, Fall 2025.
- U.S. Census.“2020 Census Will Help Policymakers Prepare for the Incoming Wave of Aging Boomers,” Census.gov, October 3, 2024.
- Ryan Farrell and William Lawhorn. “Beyond Construction Trades: Apprenticeships in a Variety of Careers,”November 2022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- ApprenticeshipUSA. Apprentices by State Dashboard, ApprenticeshipUSA, November 2022.
- Fiona W. “$1.6 billion deal: Blackstone Acquires Shermco, Leading Electrical Testing Giant with 40 Service Centers, Stock Titan, August 21, 2025.
- ApprenticeshipUSA. “Case Studies: Lockheed Martin,” ApprenticeshipUSA (n.d.).
- ApprenticeshipUSA. The Federal Resources Playbook for Registered Apprenticeship, ApprenticeshipUSA.
- John V. Ladd. “Guidance – National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards,” ApprenticeshipUSA, February 16, 2022.
Robert Harriman is the Training Program Manager at the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA). He has been in public sector training management and program operations for over 13 years. Harriman has held roles as a leadership instructor and program manager for Weapons of Mass Destruction & Hazardous Material Reconnaissance training and hazardous material response operations and training for the U.S. Army. In his current role at NETA, he brings expertise in learning methodologies and program management to analyze and implement the association’s training initiatives. Harriman has 13 years of military service and still serves as a Sergeant First Class (SFC) with the Army Reserve. He earned a BAS in technical management at the American Military University.