If you want to become an electrician, all you need to begin trade school is a high school diploma or GED.
Most electricians attend some form of technical school to gain the fundamentals that will prepare them for a professional career. Next, many electricians then go on to work as an apprentice for 4 or 5 years to gain the qualifications necessary to be an independent professional.
Let’s explore the typical length of electrician school in depth:
How Long Is Electrician School?
Electrician school may help you gain the skills to be a competitive candidate for an apprenticeship.
Applying for an apprenticeship is like applying for a job. Electrician training offers instruction in important concepts like electrical wiring, circuitry, safety, and the National Electrical Code (NEC).
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Electrician school can last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. Different programs will offer different lengths of study at different price points.
At The Refrigeration School (RSI) in Arizona, the Electrical Applications program lasts just 7 months.
The program goes over the following courses during those 7 months:
- Fundamentals of Electricity: This class offers basic electrical understanding, including schematic wiring and troubleshooting.
- Fundamentals of Solar: This class instructs students in photovoltaic (PV) science as an introduction to solar energy usage.
- Residential Electrical Wiring: Students will be introduced to the National Electrical Code and put their knowledge into practice with residential wiring scenarios.
- Commercial Electrical Wiring: This course continues with a study of NEC with a mock wiring of a commercial building.
- Smart Home Technology and Advanced Wiring: Students will continue to advance in their understanding of conductors, load requirements, and more.
- Motors and Lighting Practices: This course focuses on electrical functions in the application of motors and characteristics of light.
- Electrical Distribution Systems: This course focuses on the operating characteristics of transformers, grounding, bonding, and more.
How Do I Become a Qualified Electrician?
Most electricians need to be licensed to work, depending on their state’s local and regional requirements for contractors.
In Arizona, electricians need to apply for a license with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Every type of contract work has a different classification. The classification for electricians is C-11.
After completing trade school, aspiring electricians might practice their trade in a paid apprenticeship program, where they will work under master electricians.
Then the state licensing board requires anyone interested in working as a contractor to pass a test, which has questions related to the National Electrical Code, as well as state and local codes.
Are Electricians in Demand in Arizona?
According to Career One Stop, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, the job outlook for electricians in Arizona is good.
Employment is projected to grow by 35% in Arizona between 2020 and 2030.*
Where to Go to School to Be an Electrician
There are many options when looking for a trade school. Some considerations may be proximity to where you live, length of program, quality of instruction, school culture, and cost.
The Refrigeration School offers training to students who are interested in pursuing various electrician-related careers:
- Residential Electrician
- Commercial Electrician
- Industrial Electrician
- Maintenance Electrician
If you’re ready to begin an electrician training program that you can complete in just 7 months, please call RSI at (888) 671-5803. Electricians are essential to the healthy functioning of society and electrician skills can be learned at The Refrigeration School in Phoenix, Arizona.
Learn how to become a master electrician.
*According to BLS data Arizona employed 14,450 Electricians (47-2111) through May 2021 http://data.bls.gov/oes.
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