ELECTRICAL Credentials
ELECTRICAL 4-Year Apprenticeship Program
An electrical apprenticeship is a structured training program that combines on-the-job work experience with classroom instruction. Over four years, apprentices develop the technical knowledge and hands-on skills required to work safely and effectively as a licensed electrician.
Most apprenticeship programs are sponsored by an employer. The employer provides the on-the-job hours; the educational component — called Related Technical Instruction (RTI) or, in some states, Related Instruction — covers the theory and code knowledge that supports the work being done in the field.
By the end of the program, apprentices have:
- Thousands of hours of documented, supervised field experience
- A thorough understanding of the National Electrical Code
- The knowledge required to sit for the Journeyman Electrician licensing exam in their state
- A nationally recognized credential that follows them throughout their career
Eligibility Requirements
Follow the guidelines from the local regulatory agency in your state to become an electrician. Some states vary by city, county, or region.
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board
- Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing
- California Department of Industrial Relations
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
- Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners
- Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation
- Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors
- Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Electrical Board
- Illinois - vary by locality
- Indiana - vary by locality
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing
- Kansas - vary by locality
- Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
- Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Maryland Department of Labor, State Board of Electricians
- Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Electrical Section
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors - also varies by locality
- Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry, State Electrical Board
- Nebraska Electrical Division
- Nevada State Contractors Board - varies by locality
- New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, Electrical Bureau
- New York - varies by locality
- North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- North Dakota State Electrical Board
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Construction Industry Licensing Board
- Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, Electrical
- Oregon Construction Contractors Board and Oregon Building Codes Division, Electrical and Elevator Board
- Pennsylvania - varies by locality
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
- South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Electrical Commission
- Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors
- Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing
- Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety
- Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Washington Department of Labor & Industries
- West Virginia Fire Commission, Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
- Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety
What Apprentices Earn
An electrical apprenticeship doesn't just lead to a license — it leads to a career with real earning potential and long-term stability.
At completion, a Journeyman Electrician can:
- Work independently without direct supervision
- Pull permits in most states
- Command significantly higher wages than unlicensed workers
- Continue on to Master Electrician or electrical contractor licensing
Electricians are in high demand. The trades have a well-documented shortage of skilled workers, and a Journeyman license is a durable credential that holds its value regardless of where someone works or what the economy is doing.
Why Employers Sponsor Apprentices
Sponsoring an apprenticeship is an investment, but it's one of the most effective ways to build a reliable, skilled workforce.
Workers who come up through a structured apprenticeship program know your company, your standards, and your way of working. They're trained to the level you need, not someone else's definition of ready. And because they earned their credential through your program, the relationship tends to be durable.
Workers who come up through a structured apprenticeship program know your company, your standards, and your way of working. They're trained to the level you need, not someone else's definition of ready. And because they earned their credential through your program, the relationship tends to be durable.
For employers in states with specific journeyman-to-apprentice ratios or licensing requirements, running a formal apprenticeship program also helps ensure compliance.