There are two different tests
Which test you take depends on the program. Most inside wireman programs give the electrical training ALLIANCE test (often still called the NJATC test). A few, including Boston (Local 103), Phoenix (Local 640) and Minneapolis (Local 292), use the GAN aptitude battery instead.
| electrical training ALLIANCE test | GAN battery | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Algebra and functions; reading comprehension | Reading, numerical computation, numerical reasoning, paper folding, mechanical reasoning |
| Time | 46 + 51 minutes of testing, about 3 hours at the center | About 3 hours (Boston) |
| Calculator | Not allowed | Not allowed (Minneapolis) |
| Where | At the local training center | At the training center (Boston: Dorchester, MA) |
The algebra section is the one people run out of time on. Applicants often report finishing only part of it, so timed practice matters more than learning new topics. Our free timed quiz mirrors the pace, and the mechanical reasoning sample covers gears, levers and pulleys for GAN programs.
Test-day rules: calculator, ID, timing
- No calculator. Take off any watch with a calculator built in.
- Bring photo ID. “No ID, no test, no exceptions,” per the electrical training ALLIANCE.
- Finish in one sitting. Unfinished tests are scored on the questions you completed.
- Guess rather than leave blanks. Only correct answers count, so a guess can't lower your score.
- Bring documents if your program asks. Riverside (Local 440) wants your birth certificate, diploma or GED and sealed transcripts in person on test day.
- Expect to wait for results. About 2 to 4 weeks, and usually only “qualified” or “not qualified”.
How the aptitude test is scored
Scores are reported on a 1 to 9 scale, and each program sets its own qualifying score. Riverside (Local 440), for example, interviews applicants who score 5 or higher. Most programs only tell you whether you qualified, not your number.
Boston has no minimum cutoff on the GAN test, but a higher score helps you get selected. In Minneapolis the test is half of your final score and the experience form and letter are the other half.
Retake rules at each program
The national rule is a full 3 months (90 days) between tests, and testing early voids the score. Programs can be stricter, so check yours:
| Program | After the test | Retake rule |
|---|---|---|
| Local 11 · Los Angeles | Experience form, no interview | Applicants report no retest for 2 years, with your score kept on file. |
| Local 26 · Washington, DC area | Experience form, no interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 102 · Parsippany | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 134 · Chicago | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 332 · San Jose | Interview | If you don't pass the aptitude test, wait 3 months before asking to retest. |
| Local 354 · Salt Lake City | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 441 · Santa Ana | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 440 · Riverside | Interview | Fail the aptitude test and you wait at least 3 months to retest. Your application stays valid for 2 years; don't apply twice. |
| Local 595 · Alameda County (East Bay) | Interview | No retest here or at any JATC for 90 days. You can ask for one reinterview after 90 days if you add 450+ work hours or two college electrical courses. |
| Local 569 · San Diego | Interview | You can re-interview after one year, ideally with new electrical work or coursework. |
| Local 143 · Harrisburg | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 640 · Phoenix | Experience form, no interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 103 · Boston | Experience form, no interview | Every applicant takes the aptitude test each year as part of applying, even if you took it before. |
| Local 46 · Seattle area | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 716 · Houston | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 292 · Minneapolis | Experience form, no interview | You can retake the aptitude test only after a year on the eligibility list. |
| Local 3 · New York City | Not posted | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 5 · Pittsburgh | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 48 · Portland | Interview | You can retest 3 months after your last test. A passing score of 5+ from another JATC in the last 2 years can transfer. |
| Local 58 · Detroit | Experience form, no interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 357 · Las Vegas | Interview | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
| Local 20 · Dallas–Fort Worth | Not posted | Not posted. Ask the training center. |
Practice at test speed
15 timed algebra and reading questions with an estimated 1–9 band. Free, no account needed.
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