Electrician Classes in Florida (Top Schools)

In the next six years, the Department of Economic Opportunity projected a 32.2% increase in electrician jobs in Florida.

With such a positive job outlook, many young individuals skilled with their hands want to start this career.

If you’re one of them, here’s how you can become a certified electrician in Florida.

Potential Salary

Certified electricians in Florida now enjoy high-demand, high-paying employment in construction.

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

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $49,080
• Hourly – $23.60

Regional Salary

How to Become a Certified Electrician in Florida

Florida is one of the few states that doesn’t have state-wide regulations for apprentices, journeymen, and master electricians.

The state leaves the certification regulations and issuance to the local Construction Trades Qualifying Board (CTQB).

So, you’re encouraged to inquire at the local CTQB where you plan to provide electrician services about their requirements.

How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor in Florida

The Florida Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board (ECLB) regulates and issues two types of electrical contractor licenses:

• Certified licenses – lets you provide electrical services anywhere in Florida
  • Certified electrical contractor
  • Certified alarm system contractor I
  • Certified alarm system contractor II
  • Certified specialty electrical contractor
• Registered licenses – lets you provide electrical services only to the local jurisdiction where you have a competency card
  • Registered electrical contractor
  • Registered alarm system contractor I
  • Registered alarm system contractor II
  • Registered specialty electrical contractor

If you plan to apply for a specialty contractor license, you’ll choose from the following areas:

• Elevator specialist
• Utility line electrical specialist
• Low voltage system specialist
• Residential electrical contractor
• Electrical fixtures maintenance contractor
• Sign specialty contractor
• Two-way radio communications systems (a certified license only)

Qualifications

Certified Licenses

ECLB requires that you meet these requirements prior to license application:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a good moral character
• Have met the education and/or experience requirements
• Successfully pass the FL certified electrical contractor’s exam

For the education and/or experience requirements:

• Three years of management experience in electrical/alarm/specialty contracting within the last six years
• Four years of experience as a foreman, supervisor, or contractor within the last eight years
• Six years of comprehensive training, technical education, or supervisory experience in electrical/alarm contracting within the last 12 years
• Six years of technical experience in electrical/alarm systems with the Armed Forces or the government within the last 12 years
• Three years of experience as a licensed electrical engineer within the last 12 years
• Six years of combined experience listed in the first four bullet points within the last 12 years

In addition, the following licenses have other specific requirements:

• Certified electrical contractor – 40% of work experience is in three-phase services
• Certified alarm systems contractor I – 40% of work experience is in fire alarm systems
• Certified alarm systems contractor II – 40% of work experience is in alarm systems other than fire alarms

Registered Licenses

Unlike certified licenses, registered licenses have two simple requirements for you to qualify:

• Must have successfully passed the local electrical contractor licensure exam
• Must have a current competency card for the locality you want to register

License Application

Certified Licenses

To apply, you need to submit the following:

• Duly accomplished ECLB Form 1 – Application for Initial Certification by Examination
• Payment for the application fee
  • If applying for active status – $296
  • If for inactive status – $51
• Employment verification with proof of experience
• Personal financial statement and credit report
• Business financial statement and credit report
  • Net worth requirements
    • Certified electrical, alarm I, and alarm II contractors – $10,000
    • Certified specialty contractors – $5,000
• Provide general liability insurance
  • $100,000 per person
  • $300,000 per occurrence
  • $500,000 property damage
  • $800,000 combined single limit policy
• Provide worker’s compensation insurance
• Background check information with explanation, if applicable

Registered Licenses

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Duly accomplished ECLB Form 3 – Application for Registered Electrical, Alarm System, or Specialty Contractor Transactions
• Payment for the application fee
  • Initial registration – $151
  • Initial inactive registered license – $51
  • Registration for additional county – $25
  • Registration for additional business – $151
  • Transfer of a registered license – $46
  • Reactivation of a registered license – $116
• Proof of passing the local electrical contractor licensure exam (for new applicants only)
• Copy of the local competency card
• Provide general liability insurance
  • $100,000 per person
  • $300,000 per occurrence
  • $500,000 property damage
  • $800,000 combined single limit policy
• Provide worker’s compensation insurance
• Background check information with explanation, if applicable

Exam Details

ECLB has contracted with Pearson VUE to help administer the certified electrical contractor’s exams.

Note: For registered licenses, the exam will be under the jurisdiction of your local CTQB.

To take the exam, you’ll have to submit the following:

• Duly accomplished exam application form ECLB Form 8 – Certified Electrical Contractor Exam Application
• Exam fee – $263.25

You will take two open-book exam portions:

• Business exam – 50 items to be completed in 2 ½ hours
• Technical/safety exam – 100 items to be completed in 5 hours

You must score at least 75% on each exam portion to successfully pass.

For a complete breakdown of the exam content, please refer to the ECLB candidate information bulletin.

License Renewal

All license types will expire on August 31 of every even year.

To renew, you must complete the following:

• Renewal application form (by online or mail)
• Required continuing education hours
  • Certified and registered electrical contractors – 11 CE hours
  • All others – 7 CE hours
• Renewal fee
  • Certified licenses – $223.25
  • Registered licenses – $92

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Florida

Generally, you have two pathways to start an electrician career:

• Attend a vocational school
• Enroll in a union- or non-union-sponsored apprenticeship program

Vocational Schools

A vocational school will provide you with the training required to get your journeyman license.

Most schools offer internship programs and employment options that can lead to full-time work later on.

Completing it will give you more opportunities to get hired by reputable companies like the following:

• Empire Electric (Miami)
• Walton Electric, Inc. (Vero Beach)
• PVM Electric (West Palm Beach)

For job recruitment, you can browse through the job boards of trade associations or the CTQB.

Apprenticeship Programs

Most apprenticeship programs will have you undergo 8,000 hours of practical experience and 576 hours of classroom instruction.

Union-sponsored apprenticeship programs provide training that matches the National Training Alliance’s standards.

You can enroll in one through these Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs):

• Central Florida Electrical JATC
• Tampa Area Electrical JATC
• Jacksonville Electrical JATC
• Daytona Beach Electrical JATC
• Florida East Coast Electrical JATC
• Gainesville Electrical JATC
• Miami Electrical JATC

These JATCs will require that you meet the following:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Holds a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Valid ID
• Physically fit
• Ability to transport yourself between school and the job site
• Pass a general aptitude test and interview

If you prefer a non-union program, check out these local chapters:

• Independent Electrical Contractors Florida West Coast Chapter
• ABC-Florida Gulf Coast Chapter (Tampa)
• ABC-Florida East Coast Chapter (Coconut Creek)
• Florida Electrical Apprenticeship and Training
• Florida Electrical Apprenticeship Association

These chapters will refer you to a local electrical contractor where you can complete your apprenticeship.

You will then be guided to a local training center for classroom training.

Electrician Schools by City

• Fort Lauderdale5 Schools
• Gainesville2 Schools
• Jacksonville2 Schools
• Lakeland3 Schools
• Miami8 Schools
• Orlando7 Schools
• Tallahassee2 Schools
• Tampa7 Schools

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