How to prep for the electrician aptitude test
By the Steady Ground team ·
Want to get paid to learn to be an electrician? Many union apprenticeships start with a test. People call it the electrician aptitude test. It checks your math and reading. A good score can open the door. A bad one can make you wait months. So it pays to get ready.
What's on the electrician aptitude test
This is the test used by the Electrical Training Alliance. That's the group that runs union electrical apprenticeships with the IBEW and NECA. The test has two parts:
- Algebra: 33 questions in 46 minutes.
- Reading: 36 questions in 51 minutes.
That's well under two minutes per question. So you need to know the basics well enough to move fast.
Why your first try matters
If you don't qualify, you must wait 90 days to take it again. Your results also take 2 to 4 weeks to come back. And many programs only take applications at certain times. Miss a window, and you could lose months or more.
So don't walk in cold. Treat your first try as the one that counts.
How to prep, for free
1. Try the free sample questions
The Electrical Training Alliance posts free sample questions on its website. Start there. It shows you what the real test feels like.
2. Brush up on your algebra
Programs want at least a year of high school algebra. If it's been a while, that's normal. Spend a few weeks on it. Practice solving for x. Work with fractions and simple equations. Free videos and library books can help.
3. Practice reading with a timer
Read short passages, then answer questions about them. Set a timer. The goal is to read with care, but not too slowly.
4. Take a full practice test
Once you feel ready, sit down and do a full timed run. It helps you find your weak spots while there's still time to fix them. Paid practice tests exist, but try the free ones first.
After the test: the interview
Pass the test, and you'll likely have an interview. The people on the panel want to know one thing: will you show up and stick with it for years?
Bring examples of steady work. Talk about things you've built or fixed. Explain why you want this trade. Some programs also ask for a drug test and a driver's license.
If you rank high enough, you may get in. If not, your name can stay on the list for 2 years.
Don't miss the window
Application windows can be short. One Las Vegas program was open for only 2 weeks. Call your local electrical training center now. Ask when the next window opens. Ask them to tell you when it does.
It's smart to apply to more than one program. Non-union groups like IEC and ABC run apprenticeships too, with their own rules.
What you'll earn as an apprentice
Apprentices are paid from day one. Starting pay is a share of what licensed electricians earn, and it goes up as you learn. One Las Vegas program started apprentices at 35% of the licensed wage in 2022. That was $17.70 an hour.
Licensed electricians earn a median of $63,190 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also expects 9% job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 72,700 openings a year.
For every step from here, read our electrician and plumber apprentice guide. Not sure you want years of training? Look at construction helper jobs, which can start fast. Or take the career quiz.
Quick answers
How many questions are on the electrician aptitude test?
The Electrical Training Alliance test has 33 algebra questions in 46 minutes and 36 reading questions in 51 minutes.
Can you retake the electrician aptitude test?
Yes, but if you don't qualify, you must wait 90 days to take it again.
Is the electrician aptitude test hard?
It's timed, and it checks high school algebra and reading. The free sample questions are a smart way to see where you stand first.
Where these facts come from
We checked these sources when we wrote this post. Rules and fees change, so check them before you pay for anything.