Electrical apprentices participate in hands-on project management training supported by scholarship funding.
United States, September 14, 2025
A U.S. Department of Labor–registered project management apprenticeship for the electrical construction industry has grown rapidly, enrolling more than 100 apprentices across 10+ cohorts. The program, operated with 60+ contractor partners in over 25 states, combines classroom instruction and on-the-job learning to prepare job-ready project managers for complex electrical projects. Scholarship support from the Wesco Cares workforce development initiative helped fund the first year and will continue as the program expands. A formal graduation will recognize graduates from the initial cohorts, with additional rolling graduations and employer engagement at industry events.
A U.S. Department of Labor–registered project management apprenticeship for the electrical construction industry will mark a major milestone next month when more than 100 apprentices complete the program. The graduates are backed by a scholarship initiative from a global electrical supplier, which helped support the program during its first year.
The apprenticeship, now entering its second year, launched cohorts on a roughly monthly schedule and has grown to include more than 100 apprentices spread across over 10 cohorts. The program brings together contractors, trainers and industry partners to develop project management skills tailored to electrical construction. The first formal graduation event is scheduled for October and will recognize 20 apprentices from the initial two cohorts; additional graduations will occur on a rolling basis throughout the year.
The apprenticeship operates in partnership with more than 60 contractor firms across more than 25 states, and it is described as one of the largest and fastest-growing registered project management apprenticeships in the country. The stated aim is to change how electrical contractors recruit, develop and retain project management talent as projects grow in scope, scale and technical complexity.
Scholarship funding for the apprenticeship comes from a company’s workforce development initiative launched in 2024. Company executives plan to be on site at the industry’s annual convention in Chicago in September to discuss the partnership with the apprenticeship sponsor and the scholarship program’s outcomes so far. Program leaders have indicated the scholarship investment will continue to support the registered apprenticeship as it expands.
Organizers view the apprenticeship as a response to long-standing labor shortages and as a mechanism to prepare a new generation of business and project managers for electrical construction. The program combines classroom and on-the-job learning designed to deliver job-ready project managers who can lead increasingly complex capital projects.
In a previously announced workforce effort, the same company joined a program that places transitioning military service members with industry partners for hands-on training during the final months of service. That program provides active-duty personnel up to 180 days of permissive duty to pursue full-time civilian training with approved partners while continuing to receive military compensation and benefits. Roles promoted under that initiative have focused on supply chain and operations, including warehouse management, order fulfillment and team leadership, with openings in multiple U.S. cities.
The company supporting scholarships is a publicly traded, Pittsburgh-headquartered firm with a global distribution footprint and a large employee base. Public filings and corporate materials place it among major distributors serving contractors, utilities and commercial customers, offering electrical products and supply-chain services across several hundred locations worldwide.
Industry stakeholders planning to attend the September convention in Chicago should be able to find company representatives discussing the apprenticeship partnership and scholarship results. Interested individuals and firms can find more program details, eligibility requirements and contacts via the apprenticeship host organization and the scholarship provider’s workforce development pages.
A: More than 100 apprentices are enrolled overall; the first graduation event will take place in October and will honor 20 graduates from the first two cohorts. Additional graduations follow on a rolling schedule.
A: Yes. The apprenticeship is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and follows recognized standards for project management training in construction.
A: A global electrical distributor launched a scholarship program in 2024 to support the apprenticeship, with plans to continue investing in the registered program.
A: The apprenticeship partners with more than 60 contractors across more than 25 states, with cohorts run in multiple regions and new cohorts launched roughly monthly.
A: The supporting company previously joined a Department of Defense transition program that places service members with industry partners for real-world training during the final months of service; that is a separate, complementary workforce pathway focused on supply chain and operations roles.
A: Prospective applicants, contractors and employers should consult the apprenticeship’s official pages and the scholarship provider’s workforce development resources for application guidance, eligibility and contact information.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program name | NECA/ELECTRI Project Management Apprenticeship |
| Scholarship backer | Wesco Cares scholarship program (scholarship launched in 2024) |
| Number of apprentices | More than 100 enrolled across 10+ cohorts |
| First graduation | October — 20 apprentices from Cohorts 1 and 2 |
| Registration | U.S. Department of Labor–registered |
| Contractor partners | 60+ NECA contractors in 25+ states |
| Cohort cadence | New cohorts launched approximately monthly; rolling graduations |
| Company profile (supporting organization) | Headquartered in Pittsburgh; publicly traded; approximately 20,000 employees; revenue in the low tens of billions; operates several hundred sites globally |
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