Electrician Classes in Louisiana (Top Schools)

Job Outlook

The Louisiana Workforce Commission expects that by 2024 there will be 8% more jobs available for electricians.

In Louisiana, an electrician is expected to earn $45,534 per year on average, and $51,886 per year for the best-paid electricians.

By contrast, these salaries are a bit lower than at the national level, with the median one being $47,951 per year, and the highest being $54,640 per year.

Becoming an Electrician

In Louisiana each city issues its own license for this profession, however, the standards are pretty much identical throughout the state, thus you can work anywhere.

This article will present the process you’ll follow in New Orleans, though as mentioned, the process is almost the same everywhere, though a recheck for your specific area is recommended.

Required steps:

• Be a trainee
• Pass the exam to become a journeyman
• Get your master electrician license
• Become an independent electrician contractor

Be a Trainee

In New Orleans, you’ll need at least 5 years of experience as a trainee.

There are 3 ways to complete this step:

1. Technical College
2. Union Apprenticeship
3. Direct Hire Trainee.

Technical Colleges

This route will have you earn an associate’s of applied science degree or certificate of competency and you’ll be ready to work under a licensed electrical contractor.

Attending a college means you’ll learn the theory but also gain lab experience and have the chance of landing an internship that can turn into a full-time position.

These are the subjects you’ll be studying:

• Electrical Basics and Tools
• Electrical Panels
• Conduit Work
• Grounding and Wiring
• Wiring Protection Devices
• Electrical Boxes, Receptacles, and Switches
• Wiring a Residence
• Commercial Wiring & Installation
• Circuits & Systems
• Project Layout and Planning
• Thinwall Conduit Raceway Systems
• Rigid Conduit Raceway Systems
• Floor Duct Installation
• Motor Control Center Installation
• Installing, Splicing and Terminating Wires and Cables
• Cable Tray Installation
• Lighting System Installation
• Testing and Troubleshooting Feeders, Motors, and Branch Circuits
• Fire Alarm and Security System Installation
• Motor Installation
• Installing and Terminating Transformers
• Welding/Exothermic Welding and Brazing, Mechanical Fastening
• Service and Troubleshooting
• Material Handling and Pre-Fabrication
• Safety Awareness

Apprenticeship Programs

Most such programs are available through the Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees (JATC) and you must contact your local chapter office in the list above for more details.

They also provide the education and field experience you need to become a journeyman.

Apply for a Trainee Position

You do this by contacting an electrical company in your area, and your chances of being accepted are increased with some construction industry or some basic electrical experience.

These are some of the electrical contractors you can apply at:

• Doyle Electric Inc
• Copeland Electric
• Trinity Electric
• Fizgerald Electrical, LLC
• Leger Electric LLC
• Blanchard Electric Inc
• Anytime Electric LLC
• Kintzing Electrical Contractors Inc

Trainee License

For the last 2 options, you’ll need a trainee license,

Requirements to get it:

• Apply by filling in this form
• Present 2 passport sized photos (current)
• Provide a copy of your driver’s license
• Provide letter on company letterhead from employer or trade union asking for a helper’s license on behalf of the applicant

Become a Journeyman

This section will take you through the process of becoming a Class D journeyman in New Orleans.

With this license, you can install or repair electrical materials while working for an electrical contractor.

Requirements:

• 5 years of continuous working experience as an electrician
• 4 years with a state approved training program or apprenticeship
• 4 years with an electrician helper’s license
• Score over 70% on the journeyman electrician exam
• Submit this application

The test lasts 4 hours, has 80 questions and you can consult the 2011 National Electric Code and any edition of Ugly’s Electrical Reference.

Topic breakdown:

• Branch Circuits and Conductors – 26%
• Wiring Methods and Materials – 26%
• Equipment and Devices – 13%
• Services and Service Equipment – 11%
• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions – 11%
• General Knowledge – 6%
• Feeders – 4%
• Control Devices – 4%
• Motors and Generators – 6%

Since January 1st, 2016 this is a pen and paper exam and administered quarterly, and there are deadlines for applying.

You’ll have to renew the license every year during the month in which you were born, and there’s an online form you can use.

Maintenance Electrician License

This certification allows you to perform only work related to maintenance and only when you have an employer.

Requirements:

• 5 years of working experience as an electrician
• Score at least 70% on the maintenance electrician exam
• Fill out this application

This exam is shorter than the journeyman exam earlier, as it only lasts 6 hours, has 60 questions and you can only consult the 2011 copy of the National Electric Code.

Topic breakdown:

• Wiring Methods, Materials, and Conductors – 32%
• Utilization Equipment and Devices – 23%
• Grounding and Overcurrent Protection – 18%
• General Knowledge and Calculations – 10%
• Motors and Controls – 8%
• Special Occupancies, Systems, and Equipment – 8%

Since January 1st, 2016 this exam is held quarterly just like the journeyman one.

The rules for renewal are the same as the for the journeyman license.

Get Your Master Electrician License

In New Orleans, journeymen with 5 years of experience who worked under an electrical contractor can apply to get a Class A Master Electrical License.

This license is also called an electrical contractor license and doubles as a requirement to get the license in the next section of this guide.

As a holder of this certification, you have the authorization to install, repair, or contract to install or repair electric utilities and machines of all kinds as long as they don’t work at over 49 volts.

Requirements:

• Pass the Louisiana Master Electrician – 701 Exam
• Bring 2 passport size photos
• Maintain a physical place of business where an employee is during regular business hours to receive communication from the Electrical Inspection Division
• Represent only one company at a time
• Fill out the application for an electrical contractor
• Have General Liability insurance up to $500,000 and Worker’s Compensation as the state requires
• Provide a copy of driver’s license or state ID
• Pay the requisite application fee

You can bring the 2011 issue of the National Electric Code into the 5-hour long exam for which you have to answer 100 questions, that have multiple options.

Topic breakdown on the exam:

• Wiring Methods and Materials – 19%
• Branch Circuits and Conductors – 16%
• Services and Service Equipment – 16%
• General Knowledge and Plan Reading – 12%
• Special Occupancies, Equipment, and Conditions – 12%
• Equipment and Devices – 10%
• Motors and Generators – 8%
• Feeders – 4%
• Control Devices – 3%

To renew the license you’ll have to follow the same rules as for the journeyman license.

Become Licensed as an Independent Electrical Contractor

Registering as a commercial or residential contractor with the State allows you to service the public, hire master electricians and simply run a business.

In Louisiana, you can either be a residential or a commercial contractor.

The difference is that with a commercial contractor license you can work on projects on commercial properties with at least $10,000 value, while the residential license you can work on projects on residences that have a value of $7,500.

To obtain either one, you must meet these requirements:

• Fill out a license and mention if it’s commercial or residential
• Provide a financial statement that proves a net worth of $10,000 (no older than 12 months old)
• Designate a Qualified Party to hold all the necessary qualifications (can be sole individual)
• Pass the required Business and Law and trade examinations (information will be sent to the Qualifying Party upon receipt of the application)

If you want the residential license, you must pay at least $100,000 bond, as general insurance.

Te first renewal of your license happens after 1 year tough you can then choose how often you want to renew it.

Your options are 1, 2 or 3 years, you’ll have to prove your continued education of 6 hours per year, and you’ll be notified a month in advance of the renewal deadline.

Electrician Schools by City

• Baton Rouge
• Lafayette
• New Orleans