Getting Started
Become an Electrician.
No four-year degree required for many paths. Build a career in one of America's most essential skilled professions.
The Roadmap
Six steps from curious to licensed.
- 1
Understand the Career
Commercial electricians work across office and retail buildings, industrial facilities, data centers, institutional campuses, utility and mission-critical environments — base building systems and tenant improvements alike. Career levels typically run helper, apprentice, journeyman, master, and into leadership or specialized technical roles.
- 2
Choose Your Path
Registered apprenticeship, trade school, union (JATC) apprenticeship, nonunion employer-sponsored apprenticeship, military transition, or a move from a related skilled trade.
- 3
Get Trained
Most paths pay you while you learn. Apprenticeships combine supervised on-the-job hours with classroom instruction covering code, theory, and safety.
- 4
Build Your Experience
Track supervised work hours carefully. Documented hours are what licensing authorities and future employers rely on.
- 5
Meet Licensing Requirements
Requirements are set by state or local jurisdictions and generally include documented hours, an exam, and application fees.
- 6
Advance Your Career
Journeyman, master electrician, foreman, general foreman, superintendent, estimator, project manager, electrical contractor, or specialized technician.
Electrical licensing requirements can change and may vary by local jurisdiction. Always confirm requirements with the official licensing authority before making career or business decisions.
Choose Your State
Requirements depend on where you work.
Open your state hub for licensing authorities, apprenticeships, pay ranges, and demand.