Electrician Training in Phoenix, AZ: What Are the Requirements to Become a Licensed Electrician?

Want to work as an electrician in Arizona? Then you’ll need your own electrician license, or to work under the supervision of an electrician who has one.¹

What can it take to earn an electrician license in Arizona? Electrician training can play a big part in the process, as well as testing.

What Are Arizona’s Electrician Licensing Requirements?

To legally work in the state of Arizona, electricians are required to have a license.¹ The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) is the licensing agency.²

There are two types of electrician licenses in Arizona:¹

1. Residential Electrician License (R-11)

1. Commercial Electrician License (C-11)¹

In Arizona, there is no distinction between journeyman and master electrician licenses. Individual electricians must either work for a business that has a license or have a license themselves.¹

How Do I Become a Licensed Electrician in Arizona?

Electricians need to take and pass a contractor exam to become a licensed electrician in the state of Arizona. Before that step, though, they need to have completed an electrician apprenticeship and have at least 4 years of journeyman experience in the field.¹

The steps to become a licensed electrician can look like this:

Step 1: Education

Some electricians first attend trade school before applying for an apprenticeship. Electrician training may familiarize beginning electricians with relevant topics, such as circuitry, safety and basic electrical practices. These educational hours may count as credit toward an apprenticeship.³

Step 2: Apprenticeship

Most states require electricians to complete a 4- to 5-year apprenticeship to work as a journeyman or master electrician.³ In Arizona, apprenticeships must be registered with the Arizona Apprenticeship Office.⁴ Apprentices are full-time paid employees.⁴ A typical electrician apprenticeship consists of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 educational hours.¹

Step 3: Journeyman

Once an electrician has completed their apprenticeship, they may be considered a journeyman, though there is no official recognition of journeyman status by the state of Arizona. All electricians must either have a license or work for someone with a license. After four years of work experience as a journeyman, an electrician is eligible to apply to take the electrician contractor licensing exam.¹

Step 4: Licensed Electrician

The electrician licensing exam (for both residential and commercial licenses) has two sections:¹

1. Business: This part of the exam covers state laws and regulations and is the same for both residential and commercial electrician licenses.¹
2. Trade: This part of the exam will be different for residential and commercial licenses, as it will be specific to the trade.¹ (Electricians can apply for an out-of-state waiver to bypass this test if they have an eligible license in another state.⁵)

An electrician must pass these exams with at least 70% correct answers.⁶ Then, after passing the exam, exam results and an application for a license can be submitted to ROC.⁶

If you are applying for a sole proprietor license as an individual, you would need to submit the License Application for Sole Proprietorship through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.⁶ (There are separate forms for corporations, LLCs and partnerships.)⁶

The person or entity submitting the application for an electrician license must meet certain requirements:

• Show proof of valid identification. This needs to be a government-issued ID like a driver’s license or passport.⁶
• Submit to a background check.⁶ All licensed contractors must complete a criminal background check.⁷
• Obtain a license bond and submit proof.⁶ For example, if an individual residential electrician expects a gross volume of less than $375,000 per year, the bond amount would be $4,250.⁸
• Pay the application fees.⁶ The application fee for a commercial electrician license is $100, and the application fee for a residential electrician license is $80. The license fee itself varies. It is possible to hold a dual license as a commercial and residential electrician. Electrician licenses in Arizona are good for 2 years, and then need to be renewed.⁹

What Kind of Education Is Needed for an Electrician?

Typically, a high school diploma or GED is the first formal educational requirement to becoming an electrician.³

Then, an electrician needs to have the appropriate technical education to be able to fulfill the job of an electrician:^3,10

• Installing, maintaining and repairing electrical systems
• Using electrician tools to repair and replace wiring equipment
• Reading blueprints and technical diagrams
• Identifying electrical problems in a building
• Following all state and local regulations in the National Electrical Code (NEC)¹⁰

Electricians can learn the skills they need through vocational training and apprenticeships.³

Electrician Training in Phoenix, AZ

The Refrigeration School (RSI) offers electrician training programs in Phoenix, Arizona.

Electrical Technologies

The Electrical Technologies program, for instance, is an introductory course to electrical principles, the National Electrical Code and the application of electrical concepts in common buildings and facilities. The program can be completed in as little as 3 months, though some students may take longer.

Electrical Applications

The Electrical Applications program offers hands-on electrician training in fundamental electrical and mechanical principles; residential and commercial wiring applications; voice, video and data cabling systems; and applications involving lighting, motors, devices and transformers. It’s possible to complete the program in 7 months, but some students spend more time finishing their coursework.

How Long Does It Take to Train to Be an Electrician?

Electrician training programs may vary in length, depending on the focus, but typically an electrician needs 2,000 hours of on-the-job apprenticeship training and 144 educational hours (approximately 4 to 5 years).^1,3 Official state electrician licensing requirements vary by region.³

In Arizona, electricians must complete an apprenticeship registered with the Arizona Department of Economic Security Apprenticeship Office in order to work as a journeyman electrician.¹ Then, 4 years of journeyman experience would qualify you to apply for a residential or commercial electrician license.¹

Start on the Path to Becoming an Electrician with RSI

Ready to get started on the electrician career path? RSI can help. Speak with a team member today about our electrician training programs. Call 866-820-0823.

Additional Sources
¹https://generalcontractorlicenseguide.com/arizona-electrical-license/

²https://generalcontractorlicenseguide.com/arizona-contractors-license/

³https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-4

⁴https://des.az.gov/services/employment/registered-apprenticeship/apprenticeship-frequently-asked-questions

⁵https://roc.az.gov/sites/default/files/forms/RC-L-200G%20-%20Waiver%20Request%20Form%20Revised.pdf

⁶https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-2