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Close-up of gloved hands using insulated pliers to work on exposed electrical wiring inside a wall-mounted junction box, with multiple colorful wires extending from the panel.

LCPS Expands Career Pathways with New Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program

LCPS

September 17, 2026

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is expanding opportunities for students to prepare for careers after graduation with a new electrical pre-apprenticeship program for high school seniors.

LCPS is working with Independent Electrical Contractors Chesapeake (IECC) to launch the 160-hour electrical pre-apprenticeship program in January 2027. The program, offered at no cost to LCPS students, will be held after school at the Academies of Loudoun and will provide students with hands-on electrical training and preparation for employment and continued apprenticeship training in the electrical industry.

The program was developed in response to feedback from regional workforce partners about the need for skilled workers in the electrical trades. That feedback came through conversations between LCPS Career, Technical and Adult Education (CTAE) staff and workforce partners at the LCPS Workforce Summit, Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee meetings and workforce roundtables. Demand for electricians in Northern Virginia has also grown alongside the region's technology and data center industries.

Students who complete the program will earn an IECC National Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate, OSHA 10 for Construction and First Aid/CPR certification. Through 160 hours of instruction, students will develop skills designed to prepare them for employment with electrical contractors and continued training through IECC's registered apprenticeship program.

Students who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship will not need to reapply to IECC's four-year apprenticeship program. After final grades are submitted and students receive their completion certificates, they will automatically transition to Apprentice status and, pending employment, be enrolled in Year 1 of IECC’s apprenticeship program.

The program will also connect students directly with potential employers. Students will develop a professional resume and participate in interviews for potential full-time employment in the electrical field, providing an opportunity to move from training into employment after graduation.

“Our responsibility is to make sure every student leaves LCPS prepared for what comes next, and that path will look different for every student,” said Superintendent Aaron Spence. “Programs like this give students another opportunity to build real-world skills, connect with employers and take meaningful steps toward a career while they are still in high school.”

The electrical pre-apprenticeship is the first program of its kind in LCPS and the first evening program offered at the Academies of Loudoun. The initial cohort will include up to 20 seniors and is expected to run from Jan. 26 through May 27, 2027.

The program is part of LCPS' broader work to prepare students for success after high school. Along with college and university pathways, LCPS provides opportunities for students to explore career training, work-based learning, apprenticeships and other experiences that connect classroom learning with postsecondary and career goals.

The pre-apprenticeship supports LCPS Strategic Plan goals related to postsecondary preparation, access to career opportunities and work-based learning. Through industry-recognized credentials, career exploration and direct connections with employers, the program provides students with another pathway to college, career and life readiness.

Learn More

Learn more about career, technical and adult education opportunities on the LCPS Career, Technical and Adult Education webpage.