Electrician Schools in Connecticut: Classes & Salary Info (2023 Updated)

Potential Salary

Because of the high demand, electricians in Connecticut now enjoy higher than national average salaries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they will have the following salary information:

Mean Wage:

Annually – $68,080
Hourly – $32.73

Percentile	Average Annual Wage
10%	$38,110
25%	$50,110
50%	$62,210
75%	$80,140
90%	$99,580

Of course, your experience and education can greatly impact how much you’ll earn.

Annual Salary Range:

$38K

$62K

$99K

Average Salary of Electricians in Connecticut

City Name	Salary
Bridgeport	$54,472
New Haven	$52,746
Hartford	$51,861
Stamford	$55,276
Waterbury	$51,691
Norwalk	$55,276
Danbury	$53,233
New Britain	$51,787
West Hartford	$51,861
Greenwich	$55,276

* Salary information last updated 2023

How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Connecticut

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) oversees the regulation and licensing of the following license types:

Journey-level
- C-6 Limited electrical journeyperson
  - Can only perform work defined in C-5 while in the employ of a licensed electrical contractor
- C-8 Limited electrical sign journeyperson
  - Can only perform work limited to the services of electric signs while in the employ of a licensed C-7 contractor
- E-2 Unlimited electrical journeyperson
  - Can perform all work defined in Section 20-330 of the CT General Statutes while in the employ of a licensed electrical contractor
- L-2 Electrical lines journeyperson
  - Can only perform work limited to the services of line construction while in the employ of a licensed L-1 contractor
- L-6 Limited electrical journeyperson
  - Can only perform work limited to low voltage, alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems while in the employ of a licensed L-5 contractor
- T-2 Limited electrical journeyperson
  - Can only perform work defined in T-1 while in the employ of a licensed electrical contractor
- PV-2 Limited solar electric journeyperson
  - Can only perform work limited to solar electric systems while in the employ of a licensed electrical contractor
Master-level
- C-5 Limited electrical contractor
  - Can only perform work limited to low voltage, alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems, and telephone-interconnect systems
  - Voltage shouldn’t exceed 48 volts or eight amperes
- C-7 Limited electrical sign contractor
  - Can only perform work limited to the services of electric signs
- E-1 Unlimited electrical contractor
  - Can perform all work defined in Section 20-330 of the CT General Statutes
- L-1 Electrical lines contractor
  - Can only perform work limited to the services of line construction
- L-5 Limited electrical contractor
  - Can only perform work limited to low voltage, alarm or signal work, audio and sound systems
  - Can perform telecommunication work if only to monitor the interface wiring from an alarm system to an existing telephone connection
  - Voltage shouldn’t exceed 25 volts or five amperes
- T-1 Limited electrical contractor
  - Can only perform work limited to telephone-interconnect systems
- PV-1 Limited solar electric contractor
  - Can only perform work limited to solar electric systems

Becoming a Journeyperson Electrician

Qualifications

DCP requires that you meet these education and experience requirements for each license type:

C-6 Limited electrical journeyperson
- 4,000 hours of practical experience
- 360 hours of classroom instruction
C-8 Limited electrical sign journeyperson
- 2,000 hours of practical experience
- 144 hours of classroom instruction
E-2 Unlimited electrical journeyperson
- 8,000 hours of practical experience
- 720 hours of classroom instruction
L-2 Electrical lines journeyperson
- 8,000 hours of practical experience
- 576 hours of classroom instruction
L-6 Limited electrical journeyperson
- 4,000 hours of practical experience
- 288 hours of classroom instruction
T-2 Limited electrical journeyperson
- 4,000 hours of practical experience
- 288 hours of classroom instruction
PV-2 Limited solar electric journeyperson
- 4,000 hours of practical experience
- 324 hours of classroom instruction

License Application

DCP requires that you submit and complete the following to apply for the exam:

PSI forms for CT Occupational Trade License Application and Exam
If you registered for an apprenticeship program
- Copy of your current CT Registered Apprenticeship Card
- Original certificate of completion of the apprenticeship program issued by the CT Department of Labor Apprenticeship Division
If you didn’t register for an apprenticeship program
- Notarized letters from the employer with the dates and duties you have performed
- Proof of schooling with the transcripts and certificates of completion
Application fee – $90
Exam fee – $59 per exam portion

PSI, the testing vendor DCP contracted, will review your application for approval to test.

Once you successfully pass, you will pay the $120 initial license fee to obtain your license.

Exam Details

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

The number of items and the exam duration are as follows:

C-6 Limited electrical journeyperson – 55 questions in 2 hours
E-2 Unlimited electrical journeyperson – 80 questions in 3 ½ hours
L-2 Electrical lines journeyperson – 40 questions in 1 ½ hours
L-6 Limited electrical journeyperson – 50 questions in 1 ½ hours
T-2 Limited electrical journeyperson – 40 questions in 1 ½ hours
PV-2 Limited solar electric journeyperson – 50 questions in 2 hours

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

License Renewal

Your license will expire every year on September 30.

To renew, you must complete the following:

Renewal application through the CT eLicense online portal
Continuing education hours*
Renewal fee – $120

*CE hours will depend on the specific courses that DCP has approved for license renewal.

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

Qualifications

DCP has a simple requirement for aspiring electrical contractors.

That is, you must have been a licensed CT journeyperson electrician for at least two years.

License Application

DCP requires that you complete and submit the following directly to PSI:

PSI forms for CT Occupational Trade License Application and Exam
Copy of your valid and current CT journeyperson license
Application fee – $150
Exam fee – $59 per exam portion

Once you successfully pass the exam, pay the $150 initial license fee to obtain your license.

Do note that CT requires contractors to obtain worker’s compensation insurance, even when you have no employees.

Exam Details

As mentioned, you have a one-year eligibility period with unlimited attempts to take the exam.

You will take two exam portions:

Business and law – 50 questions in 2 hours
Trade exam
- C-5 Limited electrical contractor – 70 questions in 2 ⅓ hours
- E-1 Unlimited electrical contractor – 100 questions in 4 hours
- L-1 Electrical lines contractor – 50 questions in 1 ½ hours
- L-5 Limited electrical contractor – 60 questions in 1 ½ hours
- T-1 Limited electrical contractor – 50 questions in 2 hours
- PV-1 Limited solar electric contractor – 60 questions in 2 ½ hours

You must score at least 70% for each portion to pass.

Should you fail one exam portion, for instance, the trade exam, your business and law exam score will still be valid for two years.

So make sure to pass the trade exam within two years; otherwise, you’ll have to retake both portions next time.

License Renewal

Like the journey-level licenses, your contractor’s license will expire on September 30 of each year.

To renew, you must complete the following:

Renewal application through the online portal
Continuing education hours*
Renewal fee – $150

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Connecticut

Attending a technical school can help you familiarize the fundamental knowledge and skills of the electrical trade.

The electrician programs they offer will teach you the following:

Orientation and safety
Tools, equipment, and instruments
Residential, commercial, industrial, and low voltage wiring, maintenance, and repair
Cable/splicing installation, maintenance, and repair
Basic knowledge and associated trades

Also, your school can help you find an apprenticeship with local licensed electrical contractors.

These are some of the contracting companies in Connecticut:

Paquette Electric in Pomfret Center
Electrical Contractors Incorporated in Hartford
M. Rizzo Electrical Contractors in Danbury

9 Electrician Schools in Connecticut

School Name	Address
Industrial Management Training Institute	233 Mill St, Waterbury, CT 06706
Lincoln Tech -East Windsor	97 Newberry Road, East Windsor, CT 06088
Lincoln Tech -New Britain	200 John Downey Dr, New Britain, CT 06051
Lincoln Tech -Shelton	8 Progress Drive, Shelton, CT 06484
Porter and Chester Institute -Hamden	1245 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514
Porter and Chester Institute -New London	470 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320
Porter and Chester Institute -Rocky Hill	30 Waterchase Dr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Porter and Chester Institute -Stratford	670 Lordship Blvd, Stratford, CT 06615
Porter and Chester Institute -Waterbury	881 Wolcott Street, Waterbury, CT 06705

Union or Non-union Apprenticeship

DCP requires apprentices to register with the state and work with an approved sponsor.

Generally, enrolling in a union-sponsored apprenticeship program is the most common and preferred choice.

If you go for this, you need to contact your local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).

Most JATCs will have the following requirements:

Must be 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
Pass the physical and drug test

If you prefer a non-union apprenticeship, you may contact the Independent Electrical Contractors of New England.

Electrician Schools by City

Hartford