JATC is ‘Where it All Starts’
Boston’s Premiere Apprenticeship Training Program for Electrical Contractors Boldly Preps Tomorrow’s Workforce
NECA Boston’s November Spotlight belongs to the Greater Boston Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) and its foundational role in the growth and success of the electrical construction industry. The Boston JATC's mission is to develop the most skilled, responsible, and team-oriented electricians and technicians in the United States. The program blends rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on training, providing apprentices with over 10,000 hours of on-the-job experience and setting new standards for excellence.
“The JATC apprentice program is the lifeline of our electrical industry. It's where it all starts,” says Chris Sherlock, the program’s Training Director. “We’re training the future workforce, instilling skills, attitudes, and behaviors for people to have successful careers in the electrical construction industry.”
These are especially exciting times for the JATC apprentices entering the trade. While the rapid pace of industry changes and revolutionary technological advances present a host of challenges for aspiring electricians, JATC has more than kept pace, investing heavily in state-of-the-art facility upgrades and expanding its curriculum to meet the needs of a sustainable, clean energy future.
The centerpiece and launch pad of the JATC’s expanded agenda is its newly renovated Training Center in Dorchester. Rededicated in December 2023 following an ambitious $10 million renovation, the facility features an expanded first floor lobby, two new lecture halls and auditorium, and an expanded seminar and board room. All the new spaces are equipped with state -of-the-art audio/visual technology to enhance members' learning experience.
“Our facility reflects our dedication to education, innovation, and the workforce of the future,” says Sherlock. “These spaces are more than classrooms—they’re hubs for collaboration and growth.”
Preparing for a Clean Energy Future
An important aspect of that growth is the need for the industry to respond to the surging demand for clean energy solutions surges. To that end, the training center recently launched JATC’s Clean Energy Pre-Apprenticeship Program, offering young adults a 10-week immersion into the field. This program emphasizes clean energy systems, hands-on learning, integrating theory and application in safety, electrical theory, installation techniques, and relevant mathematics and NEC code standards.
Funded in part by the Massachusetts Division of Apprenticeship Standards, this initiative provides participants with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the workforce prepared and confident in their ability to succeed.
“Programs like this aren’t just about learning a trade—they’re about creating pathways to meaningful, well-paying careers,” says Sherlock. The clean energy curriculum includes specialized training in technologies such as electric vehicle charging stations, solar panel installation, battery storage systems, and high-efficiency heat pumps.
“We’re taking our existing curriculum and integrating renewable energy, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging,” Sherlock explains. “This ensures our apprentices are not just keeping up but leading the charge in the clean energy transition.”
For Sherlock, the clean energy program exemplifies the true value of JATC, its unparalleled ability to prepare young people for the real-life challenges and circumstances they will face as professionals in the field.
“The program combines classroom and hands-on instruction, and that means trips to job sites and manufacturers' facilities to give them the best realistic preview of a career in the electrical construction industry,” Sherlock said, emphasizing that the reality of the work can be a shock to someone who enters the profession unprepared.
“It’s the alarm clock going off at 4:45 a.m. It’s the heat and the cold, the dangerous heights – things you can't get across through a video or website.”
Commitment to Inclusion and Workplace Respect
The November pre-apprenticeship program’s launch coincided with the third annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit, hosted by Local 103 and NECA. This year's theme was "Powering Inclusion: Building a Diverse Future in Clean Energy,” emphasizing the central importance of building a more diverse workforce to the industry and JATC’s mission.
“Our state’s climate goals demand that we expand our electrical workforce and increase diversity in the electrical field,” said Kristen Gowin, Executive Manager of the Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston, Inc., NECA Boston Chapter. “Together, we are building the most diverse electrical workforce Massachusetts has ever seen, with women and people of color comprising more than 50 percent of our apprenticeship classes.”
Recruiting a diverse workforce is just the beginning. The JATC has implemented the RISE Up anti-harassment and workplace respect training program, designed to foster inclusive and respectful environments.
“One of our biggest challenges is integrating individuals from underrepresented communities into an industry that hasn’t always been welcoming. Changing an organization's culture is not just a JATC issue; it’s an industry issue.,” says Sherlock.
“We've implemented anti-harassment and workplace respect training to all individuals connected with the administration or operation of the apprentice program, including all apprentices, journey-level workers, supervisors, and project managers. I hope we'll be able to roll this out to our members and leadership and, eventually, to the employers.”
Building the Workforce of the Future
From its investment in clean energy education to its emphasis on diversity and cutting-edge facilities, the Boston JATC is redefining workforce development in the electrical industry. And there’s a lot more on the horizon, including the expansion of a satellite training facility in Wilmington that will serve apprentices who live in Southern New Hampshire on the North Shore. The school is expected to open in September 2025.
Other future projects include a clean energy building automation PLC lab, a hoisting and rigging shop, and an e-learning Production Studio. “Our goal is to produce in-house media, including e-learning tools and short videos, to enhance our curriculum and utilize the technology platforms.”
For those seeking a stable, well-paid union career in a transformative field, the Boston JATC offers the skills, resources, and support to succeed. From the classroom to the job site, it’s not just about learning a trade—it’s about shaping a sustainable future. “The sky’s the limit.” Sherlock says.