In recent years, Alabama saw a boom in the housing market.
Newly built houses will require new and custom electrical wiring, leading to an increased demand for qualified electricians.
Below, you’ll find out how you can become an electrician in Alabama.
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Potential Salary
Electricians in Alabama can earn a good income.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career has the following salary information as of May 2021:
Mean Wage
- Annually – $48,380
- Hourly – $23.26
| Percentile | Average Annual Wage |
| 10% | $29,860 |
| 25% | $37,370 |
| 50% | $47,040 |
| 75% | $59,930 |
| 90% | $65,610 |
Annual Salary Range:
Average Salary of Electricians in Alabama
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | $45,112 |
| Montgomery | $42,905 |
| Mobile | $44,387 |
| Huntsville | $45,361 |
| Tuscaloosa | $44,956 |
| Dothan | $42,335 |
| Decatur | $43,975 |
| Auburn | $42,986 |
| Gadsden | $44,853 |
| Florence | $41,350 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 190 | $48,920 | $23.52 | $60,920 | $31,370 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | 320 | $44,880 | $21.58 | $61,400 | $28,370 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 2,490 | $51,870 | $24.94 | $74,410 | $31,360 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 390 | $46,620 | $22.41 | $62,340 | $30,620 |
| Decatur, AL | 460 | $53,720 | $25.83 | $95,950 | $33,910 |
| Dothan, AL | 240 | $47,130 | $22.66 | $66,240 | $35,460 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 610 | $51,060 | $24.55 | $76,260 | $30,470 |
| Gadsden, AL | 130 | $43,420 | $20.87 | $61,280 | $29,570 |
| Huntsville, AL | 930 | $52,550 | $25.26 | $75,190 | $34,950 |
| Mobile, AL | 1,210 | $51,520 | $24.77 | $71,330 | $35,340 |
| Montgomery, AL | 590 | $47,760 | $22.96 | $66,960 | $30,800 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 400 | $53,550 | $25.75 | $75,790 | $35,310 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Alabama
The Alabama Electrical Contractors Board will issue the following statewide licenses to qualified candidates:
- Journeyman electrician
- Electrical contractor
Becoming a Journeyman Electrician
Qualifications
To qualify for the journeyman electrician license, you must meet these requirements:
- At least 8,000 hours of work experience in commercial, industrial, or residential construction
- You can substitute education in an approved electrical curriculum or apprenticeship program for the required experience
- One year of education for 1,000 hours of experience
- Two years of education for 2,000 hours of experience
License Application
The Board requires that you submit the following before they can approve you to sit for the exam:
- AL ECB Journeyman License by Examination form (signed and notarized)
- Proof of experience
- Business Entity Job List form
- Work Affidavit
- If substituting education for experience, submit your transcript of records
- Proof of Citizenship form with a copy of the identification document
Once they’ve approved it, you’ll receive a notification within 10 business days to pay the exam fee of $115.
Exam Details
The Board has contracted Prov, Inc. to help administer the journeyman (and electrical contractor) exam.
It will be a 4 ½-hour open book exam, with 110 questions testing your knowledge in the following topics:
- Basic electrical safety
- Electrical theory and principles
- Equipment for general use
- Experimental items
- General code requirements
- Interpreting plans and specifications
- Special conditions and communication systems
- Special occupancies and special equipment
- Testing and troubleshooting
- Wiring and protection
- Wiring methods and materials
Check out the candidate bulletin for a list of authorized references you can bring to the testing site.
Regarding the test result, Prov, Inc. will send it directly to the Board.
It will be the Board that will mail you your score.
You must score at least 75% to pass the exam.
License Renewal
Your journeyman electrician license will expire after one year.
So you must renew it in the quarter that it expires.
For example, if your license was issued on January 1, 2021, you must renew it between October and December 2021.
To renew, you must submit the following:
- AL ECB Renewal Form
- Proof of citizenship or government-issued ID, if not already submitted
- Renewal fee – $35
- Late fee – $15, if applicable
Becoming an Electrical Contractor
Qualifications
To qualify for the electrical contractor’s license, you must meet these requirements:
- At least 8,000 hours of work experience as a journeyman
- Proof of managerial experience
License Application
You must submit the following to the Board for approval:
- AL ECB Electrical Contractors License by Examination form (signed and notarized)
- Proof of experience
- Business Entity Job List form
- Work Affidavit (not applicable for self-employed candidates)
- Written explanation for any disciplinary action, if applicable
- Proof of Citizenship form with a copy of the identification document
Once approved, pay the Board the exam fee of $165.
Exam Details
Prov, Inc. will administer two exams for electrical contractor candidates:
- NASCLA National Electrical Contractor
- Electrical Contractor Business and Law
The former will be a 4 ½-hour open book exam with 110 questions on the following topics:
- Communication systems
- Electrical theory and principles
- Experimental
- General code requirements
- General equipment use
- Project design and management
- Safety
- Special occupancies, special equipment, and special conditions
- Wiring and protection
- Wiring methods and materials
Meanwhile, the latter will be a 2-hour exam with 40 questions on the following topics:
- Business Organization
- Contracts
- Estimating
- Financial Management
- Labor Laws
- Licensing Laws
- Lien Laws
- Payroll and Employment Taxes
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Safety and Environmental
You must score at least 75% in both exams to successfully pass and be granted a license.
License Renewal
Like the journeyman electrician license, your electrical contractor’s license will…
- Expire after one year
- Need renewal in the quarter that it expires
To renew, you must submit the following:
- AL ECB Renewal Form
- Proof of citizenship or government-issued ID, if not already submitted
- Renewal fee – $150
- Late fee – $50, if applicable
Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Alabama
Many vocational schools have a program for an AAS in Electrical Technology that you can enroll in.
27 Electrician Schools in Alabama
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Alabama Southern Community College - Gilbertown Campus | 251 College Street, Gilbertown, AL 36908 |
| Alabama Southern Community College - Jackson Campus | 235 College Avenue, Jackson, AL 36545 |
| Alabama Southern Community College - Monroeville Campus | 2800 South Alabama Avenue, Monroeville, AL 36460 |
| Alabama Southern Community College - Thomasville Campus | 30755 Highway 43 South, Thomasville, AL 36784 |
| BEJATC of Birmingham | 5000 East Lake Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35217 |
| Bevill State Community College | 1411 Indiana Avenue, Jasper, AL 35501 |
| Bishop State Community College | 351 North Broad Street, Mobile, AL 36603 |
| Gadsden State Community College | East Broad Campus 1001 East Broad Street, Gadsden, AL 35902 |
| George C Wallace State Community College - Dothan | 1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan, AL 36303 |
| George C Wallace State Community College - Selma | 3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway, Selma, AL 36703 |
| H Councill Trenholm State Technical College | 1225 Air Base Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36108 |
| J F Drake State Community and Technical College | 3421 Meridian St N, Huntsville, AL 35811 |
| J F Ingram State Technical College | 5375 Ingram Rd, Deatsville, AL 36022 |
| JATC of Mobile | 2244 Halls Mill Road, Mobile, AL 36606 |
| JATC of Montgomery | 1469 Jean Street, Montgomery, AL 36107 |
| Jefferson Davis Community College | 220 Alco Dr, Brewton, AL 36426 |
| John C Calhoun State Community College | 6250 U S Highway 31 N, Tanner, AL 35671 |
| Lawson State Community College | 3060 Wilson Rd SW, Birmingham, AL 35221 |
| Lurleen B. Wallace Community College — Greenville Campus | 750 Greenville, Greenville, AL 36037 |
| Lurleen B. Wallace Community College — Luverne Center | 886 Glenwood Road, Luverne, AL 36049 |
| Lurleen B. Wallace Community College — MacArthur Campus | 1708 North Main Street, Opp, AL 36467 |
| NALJATC of North Alabama | 1805 East 17th Street, Sheffield, AL 35660 |
| Northeast Alabama Community College | 138 AL-35, Rainsville, AL 35986 |
| Northwest-Shoals Community College | 800 George Wallace Blvd, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 |
| Reid State Technical College | 100 AL-83, Evergreen, AL 36401 |
| Shelton State Community College | 9500 Old Greensboro Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 |
| Wallace Community College | 1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan, AL 36303 |
Most schools include on-the-job training in their curriculum.
But if your school doesn’t, or if you want to become an apprentice straight after high school, you can search and apply for an apprenticeship through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).
Alabama has the following JATC local chapters:
- North Alabama Electrical JATC
- Birmingham Electrical JATC
- Montgomery Alabama Electricians, IBEW Local 443
- Mobile Electricians JATC
These JATCs will require that you meet these requirements to be considered for apprenticeship:
- At least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Passing grade in high school algebra
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
- Pass the general aptitude test and interview
You may also go for a non-union-sponsored apprenticeship program if you prefer
To inquire about it, you can contact these associations:
- Central Alabama Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC)
- ABC-affiliated Construction Education Foundation Alabama (Birmingham)
Electrician Schools by City
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