Electrician Classes in Georgia (Top Schools)

Incentives to Train as an Electrician

With the job market on the rise for electricians, now is a good time to consider this trade as your new career.

It’s expected that the demand for electricians in Georgia will rise by 17.4% in the upcoming years.

Even their salary is a good one, electricians earning on average $46,272 per year in Georgia, even though it’s a bit lower than the national average of $47,951 per year for these tradespeople.

The highest salaries are in Georgia of $52,728 per year and the country-wide of $54,640 annually.

Becoming an Electrician

The Construction Industry Licensing Board is the institution awarding licenses for electricians, and in Georgia, there are fewer steps than in other states.

1. Being an apprentice.
2. Become a journeyman.
3. Become an independent electrical contractor

Apprenticeship Period

This is when you must gain the knowledge of an electrician from training on the job and by attending classroom education.

You must accumulate 8,000 of work experience (or about 5 years) and spend 180 hours in a school.

You can either enroll in a technical school, earn a degree and then find an entry-level position or enroll in an apprenticeship program, though you still have to attend a school.

The 2nd option, however, offers full time and paid employment.

Technical schools

Technical or vocational schools offer comprehensive education and the possibility of earning a degree or diploma, and you can also further your education this way.

There are many subjects you’ll be studying, such as:

• Residential wiring
• Commercial and industrial wiring
• Electrical theory
• Advanced electrical theory
• Applied math
• OHM’s law
• Safety/CPR/first aid
• Transformers/Generators
• The National Electric Code
• Electrical motors
• Reading blueprints
• Line logic
• Programmable controllers

Since your education will be completed, you’ll have an easy time finding a job for the required amount of hours, and some of the schools even facilitate the process.

Both internships and apprenticeships programs are available through both unions and non-unions.

These are some of the firms willing to employ apprentices:

• Metro Electrical Contractors (Atlanta)
• D&N Electric Company (East Point)
• Bettis Electric (Roswell)

Apprenticeship Programs

Those interested in going directly into an apprenticeship program can contact their local Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC), though these are for those who want to join a union.

A non-union apprenticeship means a local electrician will take care of your education and you’ll usually have to find someone willing to hire an apprentice, on your own.

Non-union trade organizations usually have listings for the available jobs.

Our list of schools also includes the unions and non-unions you can contact for enrollment.

Becoming a Journeyman

In most states, electricians must pass an exam to become journeymen but this is not the case for Georgia.

This means that once you finish your apprenticeship you’re allowed to work on your own, without supervision and without a license.

You can also apply directly for an independent electrical contractor license without extra experience.

Even though this license is not mandatory, some employers prefer their electricians to have a certificate that meets the national regulations.

This certificate can be obtained if you complete your apprenticeship through IEC, ABC or IBEW, as well.

You might have to take the journeyman exam if you want to work in a different state and the above certificate is not enough.

Obtain the Independent Electrical Contractor License

This license is awarded by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board.

You can be either a Class I or a Class II independent electrical contractor, and either one allows you to offer your services throughout Georgia.

Differences:

• Class I electricians can only work on single-phase electrical installations that are maximum 200 amperes at the service drop or the service lateral.
• Class II has no restrictions.

Requirements:

• Fill out the application
• Be at least 21 years old
• Prove an experience of at least 4 years
• Score at least 70% on the test
• Provide at least 1 reference from a licensed electrical contractor, and 2 more.

If you want to get the Class II license, you must also prove you have experience with systems of over 200 amperes.

All references must be notarized.

If your application is approved, you’ll be notified some 45 days after you applied and then you’ll be able to schedule your exam.

The exam bulletin has exact instructions on how to schedule your exam as the questions in the test.

These are the general subjects for the Class I electrician exam:

• Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions – 30 questions
• Interior Electrical Systems – 30 questions
• Electrical Controls and Devices – 22 questions
• Basic Electrical Circuits – 21 questions
• Special Equipment, Conditions, and Locations – 21 questions
• Pre-test questions – 15 questions
• DC and DC Rotating Equipment – 9 questions
• Transformers – 7 questions
• Total of 155 questions

These are the general subjects for the Class II electrician exam:

• Regulations, Laws, and Administrative Functions – 30 questions
• Interior Electrical Systems – 23 questions
• Pre-test questions – 22 questions
• Transformers – 21 questions
• Special Equipment, Conditions, and Locations – 21 questions
• Basic Electrical Circuits – 14 questions
• DC and DC Rotating Equipment – 16 questions
• Electrical Controls and Devices – 15 questions
• Total questions – 162 questions

Regardless of which license you get, it must be renewed every 2 years and to do this you also have to continue your education.

You can continue your education either with JATCs or other local unions, and all you need is 4 hours per year.

Electrician Schools by City

• Athens
• Atlanta
• Augusta
• Columbus