Crafting a Brighter Future: One Wire, One Apprentice at a Time.

Our Apprenticeship Program trains people to become electricians through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. It is a 4-year program registered with the Department of Labor that provides 8,000 hours of hands-on work experience and 640 hours of related training classes.

Apprentices work full-time for Battaglia doing electrical work and attend evening classes once a week. They receive progressive wage increases as they gain more skills. Upon completion, they earn a journeyman electrician certification and are qualified electricians earning above average wages with no student debt.

The program aims to provide quality trades education, even for those lacking academic skills. The hands-on learning style appeals to those wanting to build things and work with their hands. It offers a debt-free career path in the skilled trades.

Wes has a unique educational background, having pursued a PhD at Loyola University before transitioning back to hands-on work. His journey from academia to becoming an electrician with Battaglia Industries, and then leveraging his educational background to oversee the program, adds a unique perspective.

Program Pillars

Apprentices must complete 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, translating to about four years of full-time employment.
The Department of Labor mandates 640 hours of classroom training for the program, which equates to 160 hours annually. Apprentices attend classes one day a week after work for four hours, spanning 40 weeks each year.
Apprentices receive progressive wage increases as they gain skills and knowledge. Raises are awarded for every 1,000 hours of fieldwork and upon completing each year of class. Graduates earn an above-average wage for Illinois, completing the program debt-free.