Electrician Classes in Kentucky (Top Schools)

According to the Bureau of Statistics(BLS), electrician jobs will grow up to 26% by 2024.

This will create plenty of opportunities for new electricians and experts alike.

So if you aspire to join their ranks, here’s how you can become a licensed electrician in Kentucky.

Potential Salary

Kentucky electricians are some of the best-paid electricians in the U.S.

Here’s their salary information as of May 2021 according to BLS:

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $53,370
• Hourly – $25.66

How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Kentucky

The KY Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction (DHBC), Electrical Division regulates and issues the following licenses:

• Electrician (journeyman)
• Master electrician
• Electrical contractor

Becoming an Electrician (Journeyman)

Qualifications

DHBC requires you to meet the following to obtain your license:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• 2 years of verifiable work experience and either of the following:
  
  • Completed an approved electrical training program
  • Completed 2 of the 4 years of the electrical training program
  • Additional 2 years of verifiable work experience
• Successfully pass the electrician licensure exam

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed electrician license application form
• Application fee – $50
• Recent passport-size photo
• Copy of exam results
• Proof of work experience and/or completion of a training program

Exam Details

DHBC has contracted with Prov, Inc. and Pearson VUE to administer the exam.

For Prov, Inc.:

• Exam fee – $80
• Duration – 3 hours
• Content – 80 questions covering these topics:
  
  • General electrical theory and principles
  • Plan reading
  • Wiring and protection
  • Wiring methods and materials
  • Motors and controls
  • Equipment for general use
  • Special occupancies
  • Special equipment
  • Special conditions
  • Communication systems
• Passing rate – 70%

Pearson VUE:

• Exam fee – $100
• Duration – 4 hours
• Content – 80 questions covering these topics:
  
  • General knowledge
  • Services and service equipment
  • Feeders
  • Branch circuits and conductors
  • Wiring methods and materials
  • Equipment and devices
  • Control devices
  • Motors and generators
  • Special occupancies, equipment, and conditions
• Passing rate – 70%

Both will hold an open-book exam, with only the authorized references allowed at the testing site.

License Renewal

Your electrician license will expire after one year, on the last day of your birth month.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $50
• Proof of completing 6 hours of approved continuing education

Becoming a Master Electrician

Qualifications

You can obtain a master electrician license if you meet the following:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Any one of the following:
  
  • 6 years of verifiable work experience and completed an approved electrical training program or additional 2 years of verifiable work experience
  • 5 years of verifiable work experience and completed an electrical technology program at a KY Community and Technical College System school
• Successfully pass the master electrician licensure exam

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed electrician license application form
• Application fee – $100
• Recent passport-size photo
• Copy of exam results
• Proof of work experience and/or completion of an electrical technology program

Exam Details

Here are the details for the master electrician licensure exam:

For Prov, Inc.:

• Exam fee – $80
• Duration – 4 hours
• Content – 100 questions covering these topics:
  
  • General electrical theory and principles
  • Plan reading
  • Wiring and protection
  • Wiring methods and materials
  • Motors and controls
  • Equipment for general use
  • Special occupancies
  • Special equipment
  • Special conditions
  • Communication systems
• Passing rate – 70%

Pearson VUE:

• Exam fee – $100
• Duration – 5 hours
• Content – 80 questions covering these topics:
  
  • General knowledge and plan reading
  • Services and service equipment
  • Feeders
  • Branch circuits and conductors
  • Wiring methods and materials
  • Equipment and devices
  • Control devices
  • Motors and generators
  • Special occupancies, equipment, and conditions
• Passing rate – 75%

Both will hold an open-book exam, with only the authorized references allowed at the testing site.

License Renewal

Your master electrician license will expire after one year, on the last day of your birth month.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $100
• Proof of completing 6 hours of approved continuing education

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

Qualifications

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

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Successfully pass the electrical contractor licensure exam
• Obtain worker’s compensation insurance or a notarized waiver, whichever’s applicable
• Obtain general liability insurance of $500,000 minimum

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed electrical contractor’s license application form
• Application fee – $200
• Recent passport-size photo
• Copy of exam results
• Proof of insurance

Exam Details

Here are the details for the electrical contractor licensure exam:

For Prov, Inc.:

• Exam fee – $80
• Duration – 1.5 hours
• Content – 40 questions covering these topics:
  
  • Business organization
  • Contract management
  • Estimating and bidding
  • Financial management
  • Labor laws
  • Licensing
  • Lien laws
  • Project management
  • Risk management
  • Safety OSHA
  • Tax laws
• Passing rate – 70%

Pearson VUE:

• Exam fee – $60
• Duration – 1.5 hours
• Content – 30 questions covering these topics:
  
  • Business structure practices and licensing
  • Estimating and bidding
  • Contractors and acceptance
  • Project management and planning
  • Financing and recordkeeping
  • Insurance and bonding
  • Labor law and personnel policies
  • Tax, Lien laws, and dispute resolution
  • Safety and OSHA compliance
• Passing rate – 70%

Both will hold an open-book exam, with only the authorized references allowed at the testing site.

Note: If you’re an entity, either you or a designated person (an employee) will take the exam.

License Renewal

If you’re an individual, your electrical contractor license will expire after one year, on the last day of your birth month.

If you’re an entity, it will expire on the month it was issued.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $200
• Proof of completing 6 hours of approved continuing education
• Proof of insurance

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Kentucky

To become an electrician, you need to receive proper education, training, and practical experience.

You can get this by either attending a vocational school or an apprenticeship program.

Vocational School

Attending a vocational school will provide you with the classroom and hands-on instructions you need to enter the industry.

Here, some of the things you’ll learn include…

• National Electric Code
• CPR and first aid training
• DC/AC theory
• Blueprint reading
• Motor theory
• Grounding and resistance theory and testing
• Lightning protection

Apprenticeship Program

An apprenticeship program can be offered by a union sponsor or non-union sponsor.

Union sponsors are usually those part of the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).

To get considered for their program, you need to meet these qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Holds a high school diploma or GED
• Physically fit to perform electrical work
• Pass the aptitude test
• Valid driver’s license

Meanwhile, non-union sponsors will have you train under a contracting company.

Some of the companies willing to hire are as follows:

• Beacon Electrical Service Inc in Fairdale
• Caye Electric in Louisville
• Relco Electric in Fern Creek

The requirements for entry are the same as those of the union apprenticeship programs.

The table below lists some of the reputable schools and associations offering approved electrical programs.

Electrician Schools by City

• Lexington
• Louisville