Pre-Apprenticeships for Low Voltage Electricians

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Sustainability & Resilience

Heidi Moore-Guynup

Director Tribal and Government Affairs

Matthew Marshall

Director of Energy Resilience and Business Development

Madison Hunt

Climate Resilience Specialist

Ysabelle Yrad

Sustainability Specialist

Molly Lowney

Coastal Development and Sustainability Fellow

The 2026 application is now open and due 11:59PM on May 31st, 2026. Submit your application online here. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Blue Lake Rancheria, Hoopa Valley, Karuk, and Yurok Tribes co-designed the Pre-Apprenticeship for Low-Voltage Electricians Program, which is an early career pathway training program that helps prepare Tribal members in Northern California to enter and succeed in a full apprenticeship program and other advanced training programs in the electrical field. This program braids hands-on technical training with cultural values and workplace readiness modules. Moreover, there are several pathways to electrical careers – this program supports Tribal members in identifying barriers and increasing access to quality careers that honor their communities and the environment. The training is offered by the Blue Lake Rancheria, in partnership with the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, and Yurok Tribe.

Low-voltage electricians install, maintain, and repair many of the systems we use every day, including utilities, internet (broadband), and phones, and can serve as a springboard to specialized careers in the electrical industry. The electrical trade is also a rapidly growing field across northern California for residential and commercial systems. Electricians are a highly respected profession in increasing demand our electrified world.

About the Program

This is a five-week, approximately 55 hours, hybrid course consisting of a blend of evening virtual sessions and one extended weekend for hands-on training at Blue Lake Rancheria. Participants will be paid a stipend upon completion with additional stay and travel support to Blue Lake, CA.

Virtual sessions are held live online each Tuesday and Thursday at 5 – 7/7:30pm PDT. Attendees should be prepared to attend all classes. View the full schedule here (subject to change).

Choose between one of two cohorts

Summer Session: July 2 – August 6, 2026. Required hands-on training at Blue Lake during July 17 – 19, 2026.

Fall Session: September 2 – October 8, 2026. Required hands-on training at Blue Lake during September 18 – 20, 2026.

Both sessions cover the same material. Applications for the Summer or Fall Session are due at 11:59pm PDT on Sunday, May 31. Applicants are encouraged to submit early, as space is limited to 25 participants in each cohort. If accepted, we cannot guarantee participation to your preferred dates. We will however make a strong effort to fill the program according to your preferred dates.

To learn more about the program and application process, register for an online informational session (only attend one, both are the same):

Thursday, May 21 at 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT: https://bluelakerancheria.zoom.us/meeting/register/A0W0q-rXRUu1RwwKnP0jSQ

Friday, May 22 at 12pm – 1pm PDT: https://bluelakerancheria.zoom.us/meeting/register/mXM6NodmS9yuOMihsww3rQ

Participants will receive:

The skills needed and preparedness for applying to an apprenticeship or advanced training program in the electrical field
$3,000 stipend for attendance and participation in full program
Your own personal tools and safety equipment (e.g. tool bag, basic hand tools, safety glasses, gloves, etc.)
Accommodations at Blue Lake Hotel and travel expenses for in-person weekend covered by program
CPR/First Aid training & certificate
OSHA 10 for Construction Trades (Basic Workplace Safety) training & Department of Labor card
Knowledge of support services available to succeed upon completion of the program, through a 1 on 1 exit interview

During the Program, You will Learn/Program Preview:

Introduction to Construction Math
How to Use Hand & Power Tools
How to Read Construction/Electrical Construction Drawings
Introduction to Electrical Circuits
Understand How to Work with and for Tribal Nations
Introduction to Union Work
How to Build a Rewarding Career in the Electrical Field
How to Achieve Readiness to Thrive in the Workplace

The Program also includes hands-on demonstrations and job site visits, such as a tour of the Blue Lake Rancheria solar microgrid during the in-person weekend.

You will learn from experienced electrician trainers, workforce development service providers, subject matter experts, and other guest speakers, including instruction from the Meskwaki Nation Apprenticeship Program, as well as guest speakers from the Blue Lake Rancheria, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribes, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, Yakama Power, and more.

Who Should Apply

Applicants must commit to the full program, including the in-person weekend and virtual schedule. Tribal affiliation is preferred. Participants based in Northern California are preferred. Disadvantaged and disconnected job seekers are considered (Including young adults ages 18-25, racial and ethnic minorities, women, disadvantaged youth, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals).

Requirements

Must be interested in electrical careers
Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the in-person session
Must be able to work legally in the U.S.
No prior experience required
Must be able to attend all class sessions, virtually and in person.

-If you foresee internet connectivity as a barrier, please indicate in your application.
-If you foresee reliable travel to and from Blue Lake as a barrier, please indicate in your application.

Future Requirements

The following are typical requirements as an electrician but are not required for applying to this training. However, if accepted, pre-apprentices will be asked to identify if they meet these requirements or not, as well as identify any other barriers to quality careers. At the end of the program, pre-apprentices will complete an interview to discuss support services and next steps, such as meeting these qualifications.

Must possess a High School diploma/GED or completed higher education
Most possess a valid Driver’s License
Must be able to pass a drug screen

Application Process

Applications for the Summer or Fall Session are due at 11:59PM PDT on Sunday, May 31. Applicants are encouraged to submit early, as applications are reviewed on a rolling bases and space is limited to 50 pre-apprentices (25 in the Summer Session and 25 in the Fall Session). Applications that show genuine interest, motivation, and commitment as well as individuals that would hugely benefit from an early / transitioning career pathway program will be selected.

How to Apply

Step 1: Review the program application link here (link coming soon)

Step 2: Review the program schedule here. If you are unable to attend any of the class sessions, please indicate in your interest form that you would like to be considered for future training opportunities.

Step 3: Attend a virtual information session to learn more about the program and application process. Register for one only, both are the same.

Thursday, May 21 at 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT: https://bluelakerancheria.zoom.us/meeting/register/A0W0q-rXRUu1RwwKnP0jSQ#/registration

Friday, May 22 at 12pm – 1pm PDT: https://bluelakerancheria.zoom.us/meeting/register/mXM6NodmS9yuOMihsww3rQ#/registration

Step 4: By 11:59pm PDT on Sunday, May 31, submit your program application here. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Step 5: If accepted, you will be contacted via email and must confirm your acceptance by the Summer or Fall Session by 5:00pm PDT on Friday, June 12.

To Learn More

Questions? Contact the Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program coordinators: epap@bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov

The program is funded by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation. The program is provided through a collaborative effort of the Blue Lake Rancheria, Hoopa Valley, and Yurok Tribe, who are also advancing the Tribal Energy Resilience and Sovereignty project (TERAS).

Previous Trainings

Dates: July 29 – August 21, 2025

The program was a four-week hybrid course, which included evening virtual sessions each Tuesday and Thursday, 5-7pm PST, and one in-person required extended weekend in Blue Lake, California on Friday August 15 – Sunday August 17, 2025.

The program was approximately 48 hours total and included a self-paced OSHA 10 certification online. Thank you to the twenty five pre-apprentices who completed the training as well as the instructors and guest speakers below: