There is a demand for electricians in the land of sunshine and palm trees. If you want to learn how to become an electrician in Florida and join a growing and thriving field, we’ve systematically laid out the steps you’ll need to take.
And, just so you know, the job growth projection for Florida’s electrician field is expected to increase by 12.4% to the year 2028.
Now is a great time to earn your electrician license in the state of Florida.
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As we get started, let’s clear up a few things that can get confusing.
#1 In Florida, licensing is regulated at the local county or city level for Journeyman and Master electricians.
#2 These rules can vary by county or city. For some perspective, Florida has 67 counties. This article covers the rules for the most populous areas.
#3 There are various boards/governing bodies for various counties within Florida.
Later in this article, we will cover the requirements set by the most populous areas in Florida. But you should know that most jurisdictions adhere to frequent national standards, which are:
Apprenticeship is the process of learning a craft. When you attend a registered electrician apprenticeship in the State of Florida, you will work and learn on the job alongside journeyman and/or master electricians. You’ll earn a salary which increases yearly as you gain skills.
Classroom training typically 1-2X per week is a required part of an electrician apprenticeship in Florida. It includes hands-on labs for certain topics.
You have many apprenticeship training program choices in Florida. In fact, according to the Florida Department of Education, there are over 200 registered apprenticeship programs. (http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/apprenticeship-programs/what-is-apprenticeship.stml)
When you’re learning how to become an electrician in Florida, these 4 options are what you want to look at.
1. Union Apprenticeship Training
2. Non-Union (called Merit-Shop) Apprenticeship Training
3. Community college or Trade School option
4. Work Option (some jurisdictions only)
Apprentices should register with the State of Florida Apprenticeship Office.
You have probably heard of IBEW, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which is the trade union representing union electrical workers. Together with NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association), they offer an excellent electrician apprenticeship training program.
This training partnership is called JATC (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee). They have recently changed their name to the electrical training ALLIANCE.
The IBEW apprenticeship program requires a five-year commitment. In order to complete the apprenticeship, an apprentice must:
1. Accumulate 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. You will be employed by an electrical contractor that works with the IBEW under a collective bargaining agreement. You will be paid wages that increase each year.
2. Successfully complete five years of related classroom training, which amounts to about 192 hours per year. Classes typically meet 1-2 evenings per week.
Apprentices who successfully complete the program become journeymen.
The great news is that in Florida this apprenticeship training is tuition-free. The only cost to the apprentice is for the class/lab fees (this cost may vary from year to year) and a one-time non-refundable application fee, which is currently $25.
Standard requirements to be accepted into the JATC may vary, but you can expect:
The IBEW has 7 JATC apprentice training facilities across Florida that provide classroom training/apprenticeship.
One perk from the Jacksonville Electrical JATC: you will receive up to 30 credit hours of college credit from Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), which can be used to earn an AS Degree in Industrial Management.
Florida has a number of excellent non-union apprenticeship training programs.
All of the following non-union apprenticeship training programs are tuition-free in the State of Florida. Students may need to buy books. Book costs vary per year but are sometimes paid by member contractors.
Basic Requirements (may vary slightly) you can expect:
The following are popular non-union, merit-shop electrician apprenticeships in Florida. Listed a – d.
Considered one of the best in the industry, it’s a popular choice for non-union electrician apprenticeship training.
And, you’ll get support as IEC has a referral program to help you find employment with one of its member contractors.
IEC offers a 4-year apprentice program that consists of:
No experience is required and raises are given periodically as apprentices increase in knowledge. Two excellent training locations in the state of Florida are:
After completing your apprenticeship, you can take the journeyman’s exam with 8,000 hours of OJT.
ABC is a national construction trade association. Electrical apprentices are employed by licensed contractor sponsors that have agreed to hire and provide on-the-job (OJT) training alongside the supervision of their journeymen and foremen.
The apprenticeship is 4-years and consists of
Contact the ABC electrical apprenticeship in Florida closest to you:
Tuition for the classroom training of ABC is paid by your employer. The minimum qualifications:
You’ll get a comprehensive education with this electrician apprentice training in Florida. FEAT has been training electricians since 1987 and has over 200 participating employers.
You will work for a FEAT participating electrical contractor where you learn hands-on skills. Your apprenticeship training will include classroom training 2 nights a week where you learn theory and code.
Tuition is paid by your employer although the apprentice may have to pay for his or her books.
The BANCF apprenticeship program has been offering training since 1994. A high school diploma or GED is NOT required. The requirements to join are:
All tuition is paid by the employer and necessary books are purchased by the apprentice.
You should know that apprentices are accepted into the program only once per year. But the participating employers still hire year-long. They may recommend you to the apprenticeship program if you show a good work ethic and initiative.
Local community colleges or technical trade centers are an option you may want to consider to become an electrician in Florida.
There are some jurisdictions in Florida where you may work for 6 years to qualify to sit for the Journeyman’s exam. No schooling required.
But keep in mind that it’s an extra 1 or 2 years of work before becoming a Journeyman electrician. Your wages during those additional years may not rise to the level of a typical Journeyman’s wages.
Congratulations! If you’ve successfully completed your electrician apprenticeship, you are ready to sit for your journeyman’s exam.
Local municipalities administer licensing; there are no statewide regulations.
Since the requirements for licensing varies by jurisdiction, we will detail the conditions for some of the larger areas in Florida.
Quick note: Students in the 5-year IBEW apprenticeship many times take the Journeyman electrician exam during their 4th year. In the fifth-year of their apprenticeship, they work as licensed Journeyman.
In Miami-Dade, licensing is handled through the Construction Trade Qualifying Board (CTQB). When you pass your exam you will receive a Certificate of Competency, which is your license and is only valid for use within Miami Dade.
To qualify to sit for a Journeyman electrician exam you must:
Passing score: 75%
There are counties within Florida that have a reciprocity agreement with Miami-Dade. Start by contacting the individual county where you would like reciprocity to obtain the requirements needed to apply there.
Journeymen are required to earn 16 hours of continuing education credits during each term as a condition of license renewal.
To sit for the electrician Journeyman exam in Hillsborough County Florida, you must provide proof that you either:
When you pass the Journeyman exam and receive your Certificate of Competency from Hillsborough County, it will be recognized in all jurisdictions in the state of Florida.
Passing Score: 75%
Unless requested to do so for employment, you will not need to reciprocate your license with any other jurisdiction in Florida.
View a journeyman electrician application for Hillsborough County below for an example.
In order to apply for your Journeyman Certificate of Competency, which will be your license to work as a Journeyman electrician, you must:
Passing score: 75%
It might be helpful to look at the application for a Journeyman electrician in Broward County, Florida.
The Construction Industry Licensing Board of Palm Beach handles the licensing for journeyman electricians. The requirements to sit for the exam are:
Passing score: 75%
Exam Tips from Palm Beach County
Please note the most common reasons for failing an exam are
Not preparing for the exam
Underestimating what will be tested on the exam
Not knowing the technical terms as opposed to the common terms in your trade
Not answering all the questions
The journeyman electricians license in Jacksonville is issued by the Construction Trades Qualifying Board.
To be eligible to sit for the exam
Passing score: 75%
Licensing in Volusia County, Florida is handled through Contractor Licensing. Take a look at their exam application.
You must show proof of:
Passing score: 70%
Increase your skills and work to earn your master electrician’s license in Florida. This will open more employment doors for you including more lucrative pay.
Master electricians possess advanced knowledge and experience in the electrical field and the National Electrical Code.
As a Master Electrician in Florida, you can be a qualifying agent. All primary qualifying agents are liable for the supervision of operations of a business; this includes the financials and all fieldwork at every site. Primary qualifying agents must be employed in a supervisory position or be an officer of the business.
Since master electrician licensing in Florida is handled by local jurisdictions, requirements vary. We cover some of the more populous areas here.
Licensing in Miami-Dade for master electricians is regulated by the Construction Trades Qualifying Board.
Testing is conducted by Prov and consists of two parts: technical and business. There are 75 questions and you have 3 hours of allowed time.
The business portion of the exam has 50 questions and you are allotted 2 hours. It tests your knowledge of:
Requirements to sit for the Master electrician license in Broward County requires you to have no less than 7 years of practical work experience that includes:
You must have a passing score of 75% or better on both the technical and business part of the exam. 4 hours allotted for technical, 2 hours allotted for business.
To be eligible for a master electrician certificate, the applicant shall have and shall include in his application evidence of at least four years of practical experience as a journeyman in the electrical trade or craft under a valid craftsman or contractor certificate issued by an agency acceptable by the Board. The Board may accept one of the following in lieu of journeyman experience if it is in a field that would qualify the applicant in the trade or craft concerned:
(1) A bachelor or equivalent degree in engineering from an accredited college or university and two years of proven experience in the trade requested.
(2) Registration by the state as a professional engineer and two years of proven experience in the trade requested.
(3) The demonstration of at least eight years of acceptable experience for a master electrician as determined by the Board.
If you enjoy being your own boss, which also comes with huge responsibilities and risks, consider becoming an electrical contractor.
Licensing for Contractors is controlled by the Electrical Contractor’s Licensing Board of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Electrical contractors in Florida are either Certified or Registered.
Determining whether to become a certified or registered electrical contractor in Florida will mainly depend on your career goals.
Becoming state certified is more expensive and time-consuming. I believe there are companies you can hire to undertake the legwork for you as it can be complicated.
It might be helpful to take a look at the exam details for the state electrical contractor examination to give you a better idea of how it operates.
I know licensing can get confusing. This quick guide gives a description of the scope of work allowed for each license. I think you’ll find it pretty helpful.
State Contractors are governed by the Department of Business & Professional Regulation. For information on licensure:
Call: (850) 487-1395
Visit: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-industry
I advise you to find a good exam course with a reputable company prior to taking your electrician master/contractor exam. A few choices you may want to consider:
Thompson Learning Company – there is also an area on their website showing common exam questions that may be helpful too.
No matter how much code you know, it’s a smart move to be fully prepared by taking a prep course.
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