Electrician Classes in Alaska (Top Schools)

Alaska’s economy focuses on fishing, tourism, and mining.

So electricians have an important role in the state to ensure various types of properties, especially commercial ones, stay functional.

Learn how you can become a professional electrician in Alaska below.

Potential Salary

One of the factors that attract young individuals to the electrical profession is the high salary.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alaskan electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021:

Mean Wage

• Annually – $79,980
• Hourly – $38.45

Regional Salary

How to Become a Certified Electrician in Alaska

The AK Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) oversees the certification of individual professional electricians.

They will grant the following to qualified candidates:

• State registration for apprentice electrician
• Statewide certification for…
  • Journeyman electrician
  • Residential electrician
  • Journeyman power lineman

Becoming an Apprentice Electrician

DOLWD requires incoming apprentices to enroll in approved apprenticeship programs through the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Trust (AJEATT).

As an apprentice, you will need to obtain…

• At least 4,000 hours of field experience
• At least 1,400 hours of classroom instruction

During classroom instruction, you will learn the following:

• Electrical theory
• Electric code standards
• Blueprint reading
• Algebraic equation manipulation for electric circuits
• AC/DC currents
• Welding
• Motors and Transformers
• First aid/safety/OSHA regulations

Qualifications

AJEATT will consider your application for an apprenticeship if you meet these requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Valid driver’s license
• Meet the minimum math requirement, either:
  • Grade of C or better in high school algebra 1 or higher for two semesters
  • Passing grade in a post-high school algebra
  • Certificate of completion of the NJATC online tech math course
  • Grade of 6 or better in the AK WorkKeys math test

If you’re a tree trimmer, you don’t need to meet the math requirement.

State Registration Application

You can only do the state registration once AJEATT approved your enrollment into their apprenticeship program.

Once approved, you must go to DOLWD and have your apprentice status registered.

To do so, you must submit the following:

• AK DOLWD Application for Certificate of Fitness form (signed and notarized)
• Current 2×2 photo
• Proof of indenture in an AJEATT apprenticeship program
• Original employer’s letter on company letterhead
• Application and Fee – $250

State Registration Renewal

Your apprenticeship state registration will only be valid for two years.

As such, you must apply for renewal every two years until you complete the apprenticeship.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• AK DOLWD Application for Certificate of Fitness form (signed and notarized)
• Proof of apprenticeship, either:
  • Original employer’s letter on company letterhead
  • Original notarized statement of your continued indenture in an AJEATT apprenticeship program
• Current 2×2 photo (a digital photo is acceptable)
• Renewal fee – $200

Becoming a Journeyman Electrician/Residential Electrician/Journeyman Power Lineman

In Alaska, electricians at the journeyman level have different scopes of work:

• Journeyman electrician – can work on residential, commercial, and industrial properties
• Residential electrician – can work on residential properties only
• Journeyman power lineman – can work electrical power and telecommunication systems

Qualifications

DOLWD requires that you meet the following before applying for your chosen journeyman-level certification:

• For journeyman electrician
  • At least 8,000 hours of field experience with the following breakdowns
    • Up to 6,000 hours of commercial or industrial work
    • Up to 2,000 hours of residential work
  • You may substitute the following to meet the required experience
    • Up to 1,000 hours of classroom instruction; and/or,
    • Up to 1,000 hours of power lineman experience
• For residential electrician
  • At least 4,000 hours of field experience
  • You may substitute 500 hours of classroom instruction for 500 hours of experience
• For journeyman power lineman
  • At least 8,000 hours of field experience
  • You may substitute the following to meet the required experience
    • Up to 1,000 hours of classroom instruction; and/or,
    • Up to 1,000 hours of electrician experience

Do note that maintenance hours won’t count for the required experience.

Certification Application

For all three journeyman-level roles, DOLWD requires that you submit the following before they can approve you for the exam:

• AK DOLWD Application for Certificate of Fitness form (signed and notarized)
• Verification of meeting the required experience, either:
  • AK Experience Verification form
  • Original notarized company letterhead
  • AJEATT verification
• Application fee – $50

Once they approve (or upon passing the exam), you will pay the certification fee of $200.

Exam Details

The DOLWD will administer the exams for all three journey-level electrician certifications.

The exam will take a maximum of four hours to complete, with the following details:

• Journeyman/residential electrician
  • Type of exam – open book
  • Study guide – National Electrical Code (NEC) 2017
• Journeyman power lineman
  • Type of exam – closed book
  • Study guide – Lineman and Cableman’s Handbook 13 and NEC 2017

You must score at least 70% to successfully pass the exam.

*As of this writing, DOLWD used the 2017 edition of the NEC and the 13th edition of LCH.

Certification Renewal

Your journey-level electrician certification will only be valid for two years.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• AK DOLWD Application for Certificate of Fitness form (signed and notarized)
• Proof of completion of 16 continuing education hours, with at least 8 of those hours on NEC
• Current 2×2 photo (a digital photo is acceptable)
• Renewal fee – $200

How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor

The AK Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) will oversee and issue the license of electrical contractors.

Per the DCCED, you can only become an independent electrical contractor if…

• You or one of your employees is a licensed electrical administrator; and,
• You obtain a business license

Becoming a Licensed Electrical Administrator

An electrical administrator only has a “supervisory license” and is prohibited to perform work covered under the NEC or the NESC.

It has the following categories:

• Unlimited Commercial Wiring (UCW)
• Inside Communications (IC)
• Residential Wiring (RW)
• Outside Communications (OC)
• Controls and Control Wiring (CNTL)
• Unlimited Line Work Outside (UL)

Qualifications

DCCED requires that three persons in the electrical trade profession who have worked directly with you meet one of these experience requirements:

• UCW
  • Practical experience in inside commercial wiring for at least four of the six years before the date of application
  • Construction management experience as a field superintendent or similar in inside wiring for at least four of the six years before the date of application
  • Combination of the first two for at least four of the six years before the date of application
  • Electrical engineering degree from an accredited school plus practical experience as a journeyman electrician or field engineer in inside commercial wiring for
  • at least one of the three years before the date of application
  • State-registered professional electrical engineer plus construction management experience as a field engineer or similar for at least one of the three years
  • before the date of application
  • Practical experience as a journeyman electrician in inside commercial wiring for three of the six years before the date of application plus either of the following:
    • One year of experience as a certified electrical inspector for a state or municipality
    • One year of experience as a full-time electrical instructor at an accredited school
    • Completed a curriculum related to inside commercial wiring at an accredited school
• IC
  • Practical experience as a journeyman in inside communications for at least two of the four years before the date of application
  • Graduated from an inside communications program at an accredited school
• RW
  • Practical experience as a journeyman residential wireman for at least two of the four years before the date of application
• OC
  • Practical experience as a journeyman in outside communications for at least two of the four years before the date of application
  • Graduated from an outside communications program at an accredited school
• CNTL
  • A licensed mechanical administrator plus either of the following:
    • Practical experience as a journeyman installing low voltage controls of 48 volts or less for at least two of the four years before the date of application
    • Construction management experience in low voltage control wiring as a field superintendent or similar for at least two of the four years before the date of application
    • State-registered electrical or mechanical engineer plus management experience in electrical or mechanical low voltage control wiring industry as a field engineer for at least one of the three years before the date of application
• UL
  • Practical experience in inside commercial wiring for at least four of the six years before the date of application
  • Construction management experience as a field superintendent or similar in inside wiring for at least four of the six years before the date of application
  • Combination of the first two for at least four of the six years before the date of application
  • Electrical engineering degree from an accredited school plus practical experience as a journeyman electrician or field engineer in inside commercial wiring for at least one of the three years before the date of application
  • State-registered professional electrical engineer plus construction management experience as a field engineer or similar for at least one of the three years before the date of application
  • Practical experience as a journeyman electrician in inside commercial wiring for three of the six years before the date of application plus either of the following:
    • One year of experience as a certified electrical inspector for a state or municipality
    • One year of experience as a full-time electrical instructor at an accredited school
    • Completed a curriculum related to outside linework at an accredited school

License Application

DCCED requires that you submit the following requirements for approval to sit for the exam:

• AK DCCED forms
  • Electrical Administrator License Application
  • Authorization for Release of Records
  • Résumé
• Proof of experience
  • Certificate in Support of Applicant’s Experience and Qualifications (signed and notarized)
  • Official transcripts if using education to qualify
• Letter of Explanation for a Professional Fitness “Yes” Answer, if applicable
• Fees
  • Application – $150
  • License fee – $170

Exam Details

DCCED has contracted with PSI to administer the electrical administrator exam.

You have unlimited attempts within the one-year eligibility period to take the exam and pass it.

It will be an open-book exam for each category.

• UCW – 100 questions in 240 minutes
• IC – 50 questions in 120 minutes
• RW – 75 questions in 180 minutes
• OC – 50 questions in 120 minutes
• CNTL – 50 questions in 120 minutes
• UL – 100 questions in 240 minutes

You will need to score at least 70% to successfully pass the exam.

Each exam will cost $150.

License Renewal

Your electrical administrator license will expire after two years on December 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• AK DCCED Electrical Administrator Renewal form
• Completed 8 CE hours on NEC (UCW, IC, CNTL, RW) or on NESC (OC, UL)
• Letter of Explanation for a Professional Fitness “Yes” Answer, if applicable
• Renewal fee – $170

Obtaining the Business License

The DCCED requires that you follow these steps to obtain your business license:

• Choose your business name and structure
  • If you’re an entity, you must register your business with the State
• Determine your line of business and (North American Industry Classification System) NAICS code
• Provide the AK Professional License Number (must be current and valid)
• Pay the business license fee* – $50 for an annual or $100 for a biennial license

Your business license will expire on December 31, regardless of the issuance date.

For example, if you have an annual license, it will be only valid until December 31 of that year.

Meanwhile, if you have a biennial license, it will be valid until December 31 of the next year.

*As of this writing, the business license fees have been suspended until further notice.

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Alaska

Future electricians will like to obtain sufficient knowledge and skills before going through an apprenticeship program.

Below, you’ll find a list of schools that offer electrical programs that you can check out.

This page is also available in Spanish.