How Long Does It Take to Become a Licensed Electrician?
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries regulates the licensing of electricians. To pursue this career, you must complete the trainee/apprenticeship phase before testing for a Journeyman Electrician Certificate. This process takes about four years, but it can lead to a rewarding, lifelong career.
Requirements to Become a Licensed Electrician
After applying with the state to become a trainee, you’ll spend the next four years completing necessary classes and on-the-job training.
This will include the following:
- 8,000 hours of work experience
- 96 hours of classroom training
- Pass the Journeyman exam
Approximately four years of full-time work is needed to complete the 8,000-hour requirement. Although this is a significant investment of your time, you’ll earn a full-time income throughout the process.
Options for Classroom Training
You must acquire classroom training from providers approved by the state.
You have three options for this requirement:
- Apprenticeship
- Trade School
- On-the-Job Training
Electrical Education Topics
Your education will cover basic concepts like volts, amps, ohms and loading calculations. You’ll study vital concepts like lighting systems, ballasts, control systems and much more. Along the way, you must master all safety standards associated with electrical work.
Work Experience
The 8,000 hours of work experience can be completed while employed at service providers like Brennan Electric. We’re located in Seattle, WA, and we perform all types of residential electrical jobs.
This includes the following:
- Whole-panel surge protection
- Circuit upgrades
- Generator transfer switches
- Breaker and fuse replacement
- 220-volt to 110-volt conversion
- LED lighting upgrades
Journeyman to Master Electrician
After successfully passing the journeyman exam, the state will license you as a journeyman electrician. You must renew your certification every three years, which requires continuing education. Once you’ve worked as a licensed journeyman for a minimum of four years, you may apply for the master electrician licensing test.
Many people over the years have developed their careers as electricians at Brennan Electric. We provide safe and reliable electrical repairs, installation and whole house surge protection. Contact us today for any electrical work. We also work with generators for customers in Seattle and Lynnwood.
Contact Brennan Electric today
