Electrician Classes in Idaho (Top Schools)

Electricians have a stable job and things are only getting better in Idaho.

Job Prospect

It’s expected that by 2024, electricians in Idaho will have with 24.2% more available jobs.

The average salary for an electrician in Idaho is $45,257 per year, while the highest salary is around $51,570 per annum.

For comparison, across the country, electricians earn $47,951 yearly while the best-paid ones make around $54,640 per year.

Training as an Electrician

Electricians need a license in order to work, and they can get it from Idaho Division of Building Safety.

There are also a few steps to follow:

• Apprenticeship period
• Becoming a journeyman
• Getting the master electrician certificate 
• Becoming an independent electrical contractor

The Apprenticeship Period

In Idaho, those who want to be journeymen electricians must first go through an apprenticeship period.

This can be done in 2 ways:

• 6,000 hours earning on the job experience

OR

• Enrolling in a formal apprenticeship program lasting 4 years.

For the first option, the apprentice must work on residential, industrial and commercial properties, but not more than 75% of the time can be spent on either of them.

One can also choose to enroll for a limited Electrical Specialty Journeyman License that allows the holder to work on elevators, signs, solar installations, with limited energy, as well driller or pump installer, on refrigeration/heating/air systems, or as an outside lineman.

This license requires 2,000 hours of experience within the scope of the license.

There are also 2 main ways to meet your goals:

• Enroll in a technical college or school, and then find an apprentice position
• Directly join the apprenticeship program, either through a union or through a non-union.

Technical School or College

By enrolling in a technical school or college, you can earn an associate degree in electrical systems technology in 2 years or a trade certificate is even less time.

These programs offer the necessary education that the Idaho Department of Labor and the Division of Building Safety says you should have, but you don’t gain the experience needed to become a journeyman.

Most schools can assist you in finding a job, though you’ll only be able to land an entry-level one.

You can contact one of these companies for such a position:

• Magic Valley Electric in Twin Falls
• Affordable Electric in Athol
• Same Day Electric in Bois

Apprenticeship Programs

To benefit from such training, you need to contact one of the unions in your region.

Requirements:

• Be 18 years of age
• Have a high school diploma/GED
• Provide a photo ID
• Be able to physically perform the requirements of the trade
• Reliable transportation to the classroom and job site
• Pass a general aptitude test

If you go the union way, you’ll have to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) as well.

If you prefer not joining a union, you have to contact the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and they’ll help you get in touch with non-unionized companies.

Registration

All apprentices must be registered, however, this can be done after you join the program and find employment.

Pass the Test for the Journeyman Certification

As a journeyman, you work without supervision on both residential and commercial properties.

Requirements:

• Fill in the application
• Have a notarized proof you competed for at least 6,000 hours of experience as an electrical apprentice in Idaho
• Have experience actually doing installations under the supervision of a journeyman or master electrician
• Score at least 70% on the Journeyman Electrician Exam

Once you submit your application you’ll receive information regarding the exam which has 100 questions, lasts 4 hours and is open book.

You can bring:

• 2014/2015 Idaho Electrical Statutes and Rules
• 2014 National Electrical Code, NFPA
• Ferm’s Fast Finder Index, IAEI
• Ugly’s Electrical Reference, George V. Hart
• Tom Henry’s Key Word Index – 2014 Code

Your license must be renewed every 3 years and you also must complete 24 hours of continued education, as follows:

• 8 hours on National Electrical Code changes
• 8 hours on other code-related training
• 8 hours on industry-related training

IDBS has more information related to the topics and on how to renew the license.

You can also choose to get a specialty journeyman license that allows you to work as one of the following:

• Outside Wireman
• Photovoltaic (Solar) Electrician
• Elevator, Dumbwaiter, Escalator or Moving Walk Electrician
• Electrical Signs
• Irrigation Sprinkler Electrician
• Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning Electrician

You’ll need 2 years and 4,000 hours of experience for either specialty, fill in an application and score at least 70% on the exam.

The exam lasts 2 or 2.5 hours depending on specialty, is an open book and the study material is the same for all, and the same as for standard journeyman.

The rules of renewing are also the same.

Earn a Master Electrician Certificate

This certificate allows you to plan, set up, and supervise the installation and maintain electrical equipment.

You can get this certification only after working for 4 years as a journeyman, filling in the application and scoring over 70% on the test.

You’ll be sent more information about the exam after you apply, though information can also be found online.

The 4-hour long exam has 90 questions and you can consult the same material as for the journeyman exam.

The rules to renew your license are the same as for the journeyman license.

Get your Independent Electrical Contractor License

This license allows you to run a business in Idaho, including hiring master electricians.

Requirements:

• Fill in the application
• Hire someone with a master electrician license, or have it yourself
• Make sure to score over 70% on the exam
• Proof of $300,000 of liability insurance
• Proof of current worker’s compensation insurance

Unlike other states, Idaho has several types of contracting licenses and they determine when you can upgrade your license or stop working on the project:

• Class Unlimited– more than $5 million
• Class AAA– up to $5 million
• Class AA– up to $3 million
• Class A– up to $1.25 million
• Class B– up to $600,000
• Class CC– up to $400,000
• Class C– up to $200,000
• Class D– up to $50,000

There are 2 types of exams for which you can apply and each has a different form for you to fill in.

The exams are Class D and non-Class D, and your new license must be renewed every year.