Atlanta apprenticeships: electrician, plumbing, HVAC and more

Metro Atlanta has union apprenticeships for electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, HVAC and sheet metal workers, operating engineers and linemen, and most of them cost little or nothing to enter. Timing is the catch. The Atlanta electrical apprenticeship (IBEW Local 613) only takes applications in set windows. The 2026 window ran February 1 to March 31, and the JATC's pages list a later August window for April 2027 classes. Call 404-523-5400 to confirm the next one. The plumbing and sheet metal programs below don't post a deadline on the pages we checked.

Atlanta union apprenticeships at a glance

Programs change their windows and fees. Call or check the program's own site before you plan around a date.

Electrical: Atlanta Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 613)

It's a four-year registered apprenticeship run by IBEW Local 613 and NECA contractors, with training at the Electrical Training Center at 6601 Bay Circle in Peachtree Corners. IBEW 613 says apprentices work on job sites with journeymen and get health and retirement benefits.

What you need to apply:

• A photo ID, plus a birth certificate, passport or naturalization certificate
• A high school diploma, transcripts or GED. Atlanta's JATC doesn't list a college degree as a substitute, so bring your high school record.
• A valid Georgia or Alabama driver's license, and a background check
• Proof you live in the Local 613 area, like a pay stub, lease or last year's W-2. Utility bills and other mail don't count.

Fees are small: $23 to apply and $23 for the aptitude test. If you have a felony less than 10 years old, the JATC asks you to email details before applying. Until the next window opens, use the time to prep for the algebra and reading test. See how the IBEW application works.

Plumbing, pipefitting and HVAC: Mechanical Trades Institute (UA Local 72)

UA Local 72 trains through the Mechanical Trades Institute. A 2025 recruiting listing describes a five-year program with a minimum of 210 classroom hours and 1,700 on-the-job training hours (it doesn't say whether that's per year, so confirm with MTI). You pick one craft: plumbing, pipefitting, pipe welding or HVACR. Plumbing and pipefitting apprentices work under a journeyman; HVAC service apprentices work for a contractor's service manager.

Requirements: be 18 or older, provide a driver's license and a second ID, send an official transcript or GED scores, have reliable transportation to job sites across the Local 72 area, and pay a $60 application fee. The program is approved for the GI Bill.

Sheet metal and HVAC ductwork: Georgia Sheet Metal JATC (SMART Local 85)

Training is tuition-free. You apply online (or call 404-753-6466 for an in-person appointment), send a diploma or GED and transcripts, then get scheduled for an aptitude test. You'll also need to pass a drug test and have your own insured transportation. Completers earn certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor and the International Training Institute.

Operating engineers and linemen

• IUOE Local 926 in Rex runs DOL-approved programs for heavy equipment and is on Georgia's WIOA-approved training list. Georgia's median pay for this trade is $47,880, about 20% below the US median, so go in with clear eyes.
• SELCAT in Newnan trains outside-line apprentices for the Southeast. Line installers earn a Georgia median of $80,080, the best-paying path here.

Non-union option: IEC Atlanta

The Independent Electrical Contractors Atlanta chapter is a registered apprenticeship sponsor (770-242-9277). Merit-shop programs can charge apprentices tuition; one Texas IEC chapter estimated $1,000–$1,500 a year plus books in 2020. Confirm current terms and costs with the chapter.

What these trades pay in metro Atlanta

Top earners: the top 10% of Atlanta electricians make over $84,000. Demand is strong: Georgia expects electrician jobs to grow 15% from 2024 to 2034, with about 2,340 openings a year.

Paying for anything that isn't free

If you have a bachelor's degree, Georgia's HOPE Grant is off the table. For a technical college program instead (about $107 per credit hour, per a catalog rate dated Fall 2024), check WIOA through WorkSource Atlanta first. It covers underemployed adults, though people who finished a degree within the past year may not be considered, and pays up to $7,000 for training up to a year. The full rules are in training aid when you already have a degree.

What to do this month

1. Call the programs that don't post a deadline: Mechanical Trades Institute (UA 72) and Georgia Sheet Metal JATC (SMART 85). Confirm they're taking applications, then apply.
2. Gather your documents now: official college transcript, ID, Georgia license, and proof of address.
3. Start test prep for the next IBEW window. Brush up on algebra and reading comprehension.
4. Call IUOE 926 or SELCAT if heavy equipment or line work interests you; ask when they next take applicants.

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Data as of October 2026. Program details from each program's own site or recruiting listing. Confirm dates and fees directly before applying.

Questions

When does IBEW Local 613 take apprenticeship applications?

In set windows. The 2026 apprenticeship window ran February 1 to March 31, and the Atlanta Electrical JATC lists an August window for April 2027 classes. Call the training center at 404-523-5400 to confirm the next one.

How much does it cost to apply to the Atlanta electrical apprenticeship?

$23 for the application and $23 for the aptitude test, $46 total. Veterans may get the application fee waived.

Is there a free HVAC apprenticeship in Atlanta?

The Georgia Sheet Metal JATC (SMART Local 85) offers tuition-free training, including HVAC duct systems. UA Local 72's Mechanical Trades Institute also trains HVACR apprentices for a $60 application fee.

What do electricians make in Atlanta?

The median for metro Atlanta electricians was $58,650 in May 2025, and the top 10% made over $84,000.