Electrician Classes in Indiana (Top Schools)

According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, electrical jobs will increase to 14.6% in the next six years.

So becoming an electrician here will give you the financial stability and job opportunities you might be seeking.

On this page, you’ll learn how to become a licensed electrician in Indiana.

Potential Salary

The positive job outlook enables Indiana electricians to receive higher-than-average salaries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state has the following salary information for its electricians:

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $63,440
• Hourly – $30.50

How to Become a Licensed Electrician and Electrical Contractor in Indiana

Indiana is one of the few states that doesn’t have a state-wide electrical regulatory board.

Instead, the state leaves it to the local-level licensing boards to oversee the regulations and issuance of licenses.

Let’s take a look at the qualifications and exam details for Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Evansville as examples.

Indianapolis

In Indianapolis, only electrical contractors need a license. For apprentices, journey-level, and master-level, they can legally work as an electrician provided that they’re working for a licensed electrical contractor.

Of course, journey- and master-level electricians can opt to hold professional certifications from the following associations to prove their capabilities:

• Independent Electrical Contractors
• National Fire Protection Association
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• Associated Builders and Contractors

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

The Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, Board of Electrical Contractors issues two types of electrical contractor licenses:

• Residential license – enables you to perform electrical work in one- or two-family residential homes
• Master license – enables you to perform electrical work without limitations

Qualifications

You can obtain an Indianapolis electrical contractor license if you meet these requirements:

• At least 6 years of work experience OR 4 years of work experience and 2 years of approved education
• Successfully pass the required exam

After passing the exam, complete your license application by securing the following:

• Duly accomplished application forms
  • Company License Application
  • Craft License Holder Application
• Completed business registration
• General liability insurance
  • At least $500,000 per occurrence of death or bodily injury and $100,000 per occurrence of property damage; OR,
  • At least $500,000 combined coverage
• Worker’s compensation insurance
• Surety bond – $10,000
• Payment for the applicable license fees

Exam Details

You will take the appropriate International Code Council (ICC) exam according to your license type.

The written exam will test your knowledge about the proper, practical, and safe methods of accomplishing electrical work.

To pass it, you need to score at least 75%.

For more detailed information about obtaining this license, visit Indianapolis’s Contractor Licenses page.

Fort Wayne

In Fort Wayne, electricians must adhere to the regulations set by the Allen County Building Department to obtain a license.

The Department will oversee the following:

• Registration of apprentice electricians
• Licensing of electrical journeymen and electrical supervisors
• Licensing and registration of electrical contractors

Becoming a Registered Apprentice Electrician

Qualifications

You must meet these requirements to be registered as an apprentice electrician:

• Have enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program
• Have been employed by a licensed electrical contractor
• Must be under the direct supervision of an electrical journeyman or supervisor

Becoming an Electrical Journeyman and Electrical Supervisor

Qualifications

You can obtain an electrical journeyman or supervisor license if you meet these requirements:

• Electrical journeyman
  • 4 years and 7,000 hours of work experience as an apprentice; OR,
  • 3 years and 6,000 hours of work experience if the ACBD approves of your documented apprenticeship program schooling
• Electrical supervisor
  • Holds a current electrical journeyman license
  • Must have been employed by a licensed electrical contractor
• Successfully pass the required ICC electrical exam

Exam Details

The ACBD will sponsor the exam for all license types.

To sit for the exam, you must complete the Trade Exam Application form and pay the $25 sponsorship fee.

It will be a 4-hour open book exam wherein you can bring the following reference books:

• Latest National Electrical Code
• Ugly’s Electrical References

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

Qualifications

You can obtain an electrical contractor license if you meet these requirements:

• Must be a or designate a full-time employee as the Electrical Supervisor Licensee
• Successfully pass the required ICC contractor exam

Exam Details

To sit for the exam, you must complete the Structural Exam Application form and pay the $25 sponsorship fee.

It will be a 4-hour open book exam wherein you can bring the following reference books:

• General contractor
  • 2015 International Building Code
  • 2009/2012/2015 ICC Concrete Manual
• Building contractor
  • 2015 International Residential Code
  • 2015 International Building Code
  • 2009/2012/2015 ICC Concrete Manual
• Residential contractor
  • 2015 International Residential Code
  • 2009/2012/2015 ICC Concrete Manual

For more detailed information about obtaining these licenses, visit the ACBD page.

South Bend

In South Bend, only electrical contractors require licenses to provide electrical work.

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

The South Bend Building Department will issue two types of electrical contractor licenses:

• Class A Electrical Contractor License – enables you and your employees to be principally engaged in electrical contracting
• Class B Industrial Electrical License – enables you to provide electrical work to the industrial field

Qualifications

You can obtain the electrical contractor license if you meet these requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• 4 years of work experience or equivalent
• Successfully pass the F16 Master Electrician exam

After passing the exam, Class A applicants must submit the following to the Board of Examiners for approval:

• Duly accomplished license application form
• Copy of valid ID
• Complete background check from the local police department
• Letter of reference from each contractor verifying your apprenticeship
• Proof of passing the exam
• Application fee – $50

Once they’ve approved, complete your license application by securing the following:

• Original surety bond – $5,000
• Proof of worker’s compensation insurance
• Business registration with the State of Indiana, if applicable
• Annual license fee – $125

For Class B applicants, you only need to submit the following to directly obtain your license:

• Duly accomplished license application form
• Proof of worker’s compensation insurance
• Business registration with the State of Indiana, if applicable
• Annual license fee – $125

Exam Details

SBBD has contracted with PearsonVUE to administer the F16 exam.

It will be a 5-hour 100-item open-book exam wherein you can bring the following reference books:

• 2014 National Electrical Code
• Ugly’s Electrical References

You will need to score at least 70% to pass the exam.

For more detailed information about obtaining these licenses, visit the SBBD Contractor Licenses/Registrations page.

Evansville

In Evansville, the City Of Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission will oversee the regulations and licenses of electricians.

• Apprentice electrician
• Journeyman electrician
• Master electrician

Becoming a Licensed Apprentice Electrician

Qualifications

The BC only has a simple requirement for you to become a licensed apprentice electrician: to be enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program.

If you are, then submit a duly accomplished Apprentice Tradesman Application form.

Becoming a Journeyman and Master Electrician

Qualifications

You can obtain the Evansville journeyman electrician license if you have at least 4 years (6.200 hours) of work experience.

If you do, then submit the following to BC’s Licensing and Disciplinary Board for approval to test:

• Duly accomplished application form
• Proof of work experience
• Completed and notarized criminal background information
• 3 notarized recommendation letters on official letterhead

Once the Board approved and then successfully passed the required exam, you must present the following to receive your license:

• A copy of your exam scores
• Payment for the applicable licensing fee
• Additional requirements for master electricians:
  • Proof of at least $1 million general liability insurance
  • Proof of worker’s compensation insurance
  • Surety bond – $25,000

Exam Details

BC will administer the exam for both journeyman and master electricians.

The journeyman exam will be a 3-hour 80-item open-book exam.

Meanwhile, the master electrician exam will be a 4-hour 100-item open-book exam.

They will only allow you to bring the 2008 NEC as a reference book at the testing site.

To pass, you must score at least 70% for the journeyman exam and 75% for the master electrician exam.

For more detailed information about obtaining these licenses, visit the BC Contractor Licensing page.

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Indiana

Before you can become an apprentice, journeyman, master, or contractor, you must first receive proper education and training.

You have two options here:

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

Technical-Vocational Schools

Attending school is the easiest option that provides you with the required classroom time and practical experience.

After finishing the program, you can get a certificate or diploma, which you can use for further education in the future.

Apprenticeship Programs

For union ones, you can apply for an apprenticeship through the local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).

They typically require that you meet these requirements to qualify:

• Be 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma/GED
• Be able to drive
• Pass a general aptitude exam
• Reside in the jurisdiction of the JATC you applied to

For non-union ones, you can apply through the local ABC or IEC chapters, or private employers.

The table below lists some of the approved schools and apprenticeship programs you can consider entering into.

Electrician Schools by City

• Indianapolis