People depend upon electricity for a significant portion of their daily lives. From heating and cooling to lighting and appliances, people across the country rely on electricity to power their lives – and electricians make it all possible. Without qualified electricians, many of the advancements and comforts people have come to expect would not be possible. Being an electrician is an exciting career that requires hands-on work, problem-solving skills, and customer service skills. Furthermore, engineering offers the opportunity to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial buildings. They handle the wiring, transformers, and circuit breakers to create a system that is safe and runs reliably for the users. Furthermore, they must follow state and local building regulation based on the National Electric Code.
Credentials for electricians
Attending a vocational school program to receive training in circuitry, safety, and electricity is a common way to start an electrician career. The Refrigeration School’s electrician training program prepares students for the exams they need to take in order to obtain their credentials. Every state has slightly different requirements for electricians in terms of what tests are required to receive the different licenses.
Although individual states have their own requirements for who qualifies for which position, most areas require that applicants complete a certain number of hours of classroom education and on-the-job training. Supervised worked experience and classroom learning about electricity prior to taking an intensive exam are commonly seen requirements for those seeking a journeyman certification.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 1, students have to take their state’s journeyman licensing exam in order to perform duties on their own. This test will ensure they understand electricity, including the National Electric code, the state electrical codes, and local electrical codes. Passing the journeyman licensing exam opens the door for qualified professionals to advance through the field. Some professionals may also wish to pursue additional certifications, such as those offered for solar installation professionals by SEI or NABCEP. These certificates can help electricians proceed if they want to focus on solar energy electricity.
Here is a breakdown of which states do and do not require licensing. The exact requirements will vary by state, so interested professionals should contact their local building commission or other licensing body.
- work experience, academics, exam
- work experience, academics, exam
- registration and must be/work with a licensed electrical administrator
- work experience, exam
- work experience, exam
- licensed at local levels
- work experience, hold a Master’s Electrician’s license, exam
- exam, continuing education
- evidence of technical knowledge and experience, exam
- complete apprenticeship, certification, exam
- work experience
- work experience
- hold a Master Electrician’s license
- degree, experience, exam
- 4 year apprenticeship or applicable experience
- experience
- 2 years as a licensed journeyman, exam
- work experience, education, exam
- work experience, schooling, exam
- work experience, schooling, exam
- local exam, journeymen licensed at local levels
- state-wide exam
- exam, continuing education
- exam
- work experience, exam
- 4 years as journey worker
- be journeyman for at least 2 years, exam
- be journeyman for 4 years, exam
- 4 years experience as apprentice in work experience and classroom, exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- license required
- no statewide requirements
- exam
- experience as journeyman, exam
- work experience or apprenticeship, exam
- exam
- exam
- exam
- licensed electrician with insurance
- education, experience as journeyman, exam
- experience, exam
- exam
- exam
- licensed at local levels
- experience, education, exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- education, experience as journeyman, exam
- experience, exam
- exam
- no statewide licensing, some done in local jurisdictions
- experience as apprentice or schooling, exam
- experience as apprentice or schooling, exam
- experience, exam
- no state licensing
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- exam, continuing education
- no state requirements, local municipalities with some requirements
- experience as journeyman or Class “B” electrician
- experience as journeyman, exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam, continuing education
- no statewide licensing
- exam
- exam
- apprenticeship or equivalent, exam, continuing education
- apprenticeship or equivalent, exam
- exam
- licensed at local levels
- experience
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- exam
- exam
- experience, have journeyman license for 2 years, exam
- experience, exam
- exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- education, experience, exam
- exam
- exam
- apprenticeship or experience
- experience
- exam
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
- exam, local municipalities determine certification
- experience, local municipalities determine certification
- experience as master electrician
- experience, exam
- experience, exam
Alabama
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
Alaska
-
Electrical contractor
Electrician
Arizona
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
Arkansas
-
Electrical contractor
Electrician
California
-
Electrical contractor
Electrician
General electrician
Residential electrician
Colorado
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Residential wireman
Connecticut
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
Delaware
-
Master electrician general
Master electrician limited
Florida
-
Local registration
Certified
Georgia
-
Contractor
Hawaii
-
Electrical contractor
Journey workers
Supervising electrician
Idaho
-
Electrical contractor
Master journeyman electrician
Journeyman electrician
Illinois
-
No statewide licensing, municipalities can license contractors
Indiana
-
No statewide licensing, municipalities can license contractors
Iowa
-
Working on developing licensing requirements, no statewide licensing of journeyman
Kansas
-
No statewide licensing, most local jurisdictions have licensing. Note: optional exam to ensure licensing in all jurisdictions.
Kentucky
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Exam
Louisiana
-
Electrical contractor
Alarm installers
Journeyman electrician
Maine
-
Fees and exams required for licensing in all electrician categories
Maryland
-
Master electrician
Massachusetts
-
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Michigan
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Minnesota
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Installer
Mississippi
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
Missouri
-
No statewide licensing
Montana
-
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Residential electrician
Nebraska
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
Nevada
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman
New Hampshire
-
Master electrician
Journeyman
New Jersey
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
New Mexico
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
New York
-
No state licensing, some local government licensing or permits
North Carolina
-
Electrical contractors
Journeyman
North Dakota
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Class “B” electrician
Ohio
-
Contractor
Journeyman
Oklahoma
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman electrician
Oregon
-
General journeyman
Limited journeyman electrician
Pennsylvania
-
No statewide requirements, some in local jurisdictions
Rhode Island
-
Licenses required, contact state for requirements
South Carolina
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman
South Dakota
-
Electrical contractor
Journeyman
Class “B” electrician
Tennessee
-
Contractors
Electricians
Texas
-
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Utah
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Vermont
-
Master electrician
-
journeyman’s license for 2 years, exam
Journeyman electrician
Virginia
-
Master electrician
Journeyman
Washington
-
Master electrician
Journeyman
District of Columbia
-
Must apply with experience to sit for exams for all classifications
West Virginia
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman
Wisconsin
-
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
Wyoming
-
Electrical contractor
Master electrician
Journeyman electrician
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Many states have reciprocal relationships with others, meaning that they will recognize licenses that have been issued by other states. For example, California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah all acknowledge each other’s licenses in good standing. Maine will reciprocally recognize New Hampshire and Vermont at certain levels.
Working as an electrician is an exciting field that offers faster-than-average projected job growth 2, the chance to work in emerging markets, and the opportunity to work in fields that directly impact people. Those interested in entering this industry should contact RSI for help in getting started.
Additional Sources
1. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-4
2. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-6
