To become an electrician, finish high school, learn the trade in a 4- or 5-year paid apprenticeship, then pass your state's license exam. Apprentices typically get 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year. The exam tests the National Electrical Code (NEC), the national wiring rulebook, plus state and local codes. Search openings on the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Job Finder.
| Quick facts | Becoming an electrician |
|---|---|
| Education | A high school diploma or equivalent, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) |
| Training | A 4- or 5-year apprenticeship: a paid job plus classroom lessons. A registered apprenticeship adds a mentor, raises as your skills grow and a nationally recognized credential. |
| License | Most states require a test and a license. Your state board sets the hours and the exam. See your state's requirements. |
| Journeyman | A worker who has finished an apprenticeship. The BLS says journey workers can work on their own, subject to state licensing rules. |
| Pay | Median $63,190 a year, or $30.38 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS) |
| Job outlook | 9% growth from 2025 to 2035, which the BLS calls "much faster than average" |
How to become an electrician, step by step
- Finish high school or earn an equivalent diploma.
- Start training. Most people join an apprenticeship. Some start at a technical school, and graduates usually get credit toward an apprenticeship.
- Log your hours. Your state board counts supervised work time toward the license.
- Pass the license exam. State license exams are usually open book, so speed with the NEC matters.
- Renew on time. Your state may require continuing education (CE), classes you take to renew, usually on safety and code changes.
- Move up to master after more years as a journeyman.
Studying for your electrical exam? JCR's $495 self-study package covers exams in 14+ states. It has a 152-page study manual, 100 video lessons, 500+ practice questions and permanent code tabs.
Testing in North Carolina? Take JCR's NC exam prep class: two full days in person ($845) in Raleigh, Asheville, Mooresville (Charlotte area) or Winston-Salem, or live on Zoom on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. 93% pass rate for JCR classroom students.
How long does it take to become an electrician?
Plan on 4 to 5 years to reach journeyman. At the 2,000 hours a year that the BLS says apprentices typically log, Texas's 8,000 hours is about 4 years. Three state examples:
| State | First license | Master or top license |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Journeyman: 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a Texas master. You may test at 7,000. | Master: 12,000 hours, plus 2 years holding a journeyman license |
| Virginia | Journeyman: 4 years of experience plus 240 hours of trade school, or 8 years with no schooling (18VAC50-30-39 lists other mixes) | Master: 1 year as a licensed journeyman, or 9 years of experience |
| North Carolina | No journeyman license. You work for a licensed contractor. Your own Limited contractor license takes 3,000 hours. | Unlimited contractor license: 9,000 hours |
How to become a journeyman electrician
Finish your training hours, apply to your state board, then pass its exam. In Texas, a journeyman works "under the general supervision of a Master Electrician."
- Exam example: Virginia's journeyman test has 70 questions in 210 minutes, and 49 correct passes. It costs $100 at PSI, the testing company.
- What it covers: the NEC, state rules and, in Virginia, NFPA 70E electrical safety.
More on Virginia: the Virginia journeyman and master exams.
How to become a master electrician
A master license is the top individual license. You need years as a journeyman, then a longer exam.
- Texas: 2 years with a journeyman license and 12,000 hours of training.
- Virginia: 1 year as a journeyman, or 9 years of experience. The master exam has 90 questions in 270 minutes. 63 correct passes.
- Maryland: 7 years working under a master, with up to 3 years of credit for formal training, per the state's PSI bulletin. The exam has 90 questions in 240 minutes. 70% passes.
How much does it cost to become an electrician?
Registered apprentices earn a wage from day one, so most costs come at the license step:
- Application and exam fees: Texas charges $30 to apply for a journeyman license ($45 for master). Virginia's PSI exam is $100 ($125 for master). North Carolina charges $125 to apply and test.
- Code book: the 2020 NEC softbound is $185 at JCR. Check your exam bulletin for the edition.
- License fees: Virginia's renewal is $160 every 3 years. North Carolina's Limited license is $100 a year.
- Exam prep: JCR's state self-study package is $495.
Electrician license requirements by state
Each state sets its own license classes, hours and exam. Start with JCR's electrical license requirements by state or the state requirements page. In North Carolina, see the NC electrical license guide.
Want to test yourself first? Take JCR's free 25-question NEC mock exam.
Common questions about becoming an electrician
How long does it take to become an electrician?
Most people train 4 or 5 years in an apprenticeship. Texas requires 8,000 hours for a journeyman license, and Virginia requires 4 years of experience plus 240 hours of training, or 8 years of experience.
Can you become an electrician without an apprenticeship?
In some states, yes. Some people start at a technical school, which usually counts toward an apprenticeship, and Virginia accepts 8 years of experience with no schooling.
Do electricians need a license?
In most states, yes: you pass a test and get licensed. North Carolina licenses electrical contractors instead, so an employee of a licensed contractor needs no state license.
How much do electricians make?
The median pay was $63,190 a year, or $30.38 an hour, in May 2025, according to the BLS.
What is on the electrician license exam?
Questions on the NEC and on state and local codes. Virginia's journeyman exam also covers state regulations and NFPA 70E safety.
Electrician license exam prep with JCR
JCR's $495 self-study package is built for the license-exam step. You get 21 hours of video in 100 lessons, a 152-page manual that follows a six-week plan, 500+ practice questions and permanent code tabs. The videos start the day you order.
Choose your state's self-study — $495
North Carolina readers can also take JCR's NC exam prep class, $845 for two full days in person in Raleigh, Asheville, Mooresville (Charlotte area) or Winston-Salem, or live on Zoom. See NC class dates.
Find your state's exam prep
Each package matches that state's exam and code edition.
Not sure which license you need? Check your state's requirements.
Related guides: Journeyman electrician exam · Master electrician exam · Electrical license requirements by state · How to choose an exam prep course
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians
- Apprenticeship.gov: Career seekers
- Apprenticeship.gov: Apprenticeship Job Finder
- NFPA 70: National Electrical Code
- TDLR: Journeyman Electrician license
- TDLR: Master Electrician license
- 18VAC50-30-39: Virginia exam qualifications
- 18VAC50-30-120: Virginia renewal
- PSI: Virginia bulletin
- PSI: Maryland bulletin
- 21 NCAC 18B .0201: NC experience hours
- G.S. 87-43.1: NC exceptions
- NCBEEC: Fees
JCR checked every fact above against these sources on October 21, 2026.