Electrician Classes in Missouri (Top Schools)

According to the MO Economic Research and Information Center, electricians have one of the top 100 fastest-growing occupations.

What’s more, the MO Department of Economic Development foresees a 10% increase in electrician job openings between 2012 and 2022.

So if you want to enter the electrical industry, now’s the time to do so.

Below, you’ll learn how to become a licensed electrician in Missouri.

Potential Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Missouri electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021:

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $61,600
• Hourly – $29.62

Regional Salary

How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Missouri

In Missouri, you can only legally provide electrical services if you obtain a license.

However, unlike most states, Missouri lets its local-level licensing boards regulate and issue licenses, from apprentices to electrical contractors.

As of July 1, 2019, the MO Division of Professional Registration (DPR) announced that it’ll also offer a state-wide electrical contractor license, but it’s optional.

You don’t have to get this state-wide license if, for example, you’ll only provide services to the locality you currently hold a contractor license to.

Let’s take a look at the license application and requirements for different localities as examples below.

Becoming an Apprentice Electrician

In general, you can become an apprentice electrician by enrolling in a sponsored apprenticeship program or completing a 2- to 4-year electrician course.

As an apprentice, you’re required to meet the minimum experience and education requirements to qualify for a journeyman license.

Depending on your local licensing board, they may need you to have one or two of the following:

• 8,000 hours of experience and 500 to 1,000 hours of classroom education, according to the county’s regulations
• Earn an associate’s degree in electrical engineering and 8,000 hours of experience
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or technology and 4,000 hours of experience
• 12,000 hours (6 years) of wiring and maintenance work under a licensed electrical contractor

Note that classroom education should, at a minimum, cover the following:

• Electrical theory
• Structured wiring systems
• National Electrical Code (NEC)
• Conduit bending
• Blueprint reading
• OSHA safety
• Industrial motor controls
• Fiber optics
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

Alternatives to Gaining the Required Experience

The following alternatives are valid for St. Louis County and other counties that accept them.

Military Experience

In some jurisdictions, relevant military training can be accepted in place of electrical training.

Extensive Field Experience

It means working for an electrical or elevator service company performing electrical wiring or maintenance for about 12,000 hours.

Becoming a Journeyman Electrician

Not all localities offer journeyman electrician licenses.

If your locality is one of those that doesn’t issue it, you can apply for one in other jurisdictions within Missouri.

For instance, Jefferson City accepts applicants from other counties provided that you meet these requirements:

• Complete and prove 8,000 hours as an apprentice
• Apply for the journeyman license, and pay the applicable fee
• Apply for the journeyman exam and pay the exam fee
• Get a score of more than 70% on the test

This exam is open book, lasts for 3 hours, and covers 80 questions in the following areas:

• General electrical knowledge
• Wiring and protection
• Wiring methods and materials
• Equipment for general use
• Special occupancies
• Special equipment
• Special conditions
• Communication systems
• Safety

Becoming a Master Electrician

In some local jurisdictions, apprentices can go straight to becoming licensed master electricians.

One example of that is Kansas City, where you can get a Class I or Class II master electrician license.

• Class I – allows you to install, alter, repair, or remove any electrical equipment
• Class II – allows you to only work with certain types of electrical equipment and existing circuits as long as they’re not longer than 10 feet

To apply, you must meet these requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Fill in the application and pay the $55 application fee
• Provide 2 notarized reference letters from 2 different companies attesting you have at least 3 years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor
• Score over 70% on the required exam

The exam is held by Prometric or the International Code Council (ICC) for Class I and by Prometric only for Class II.

The exam lasts for 2 and a half hours, has 50 questions, and is open book.

It will cover the following topics:

• General electrical knowledge
• Wiring and protection
• Wiring methods and materials
• Equipment for general use
• Special occupancies
• Special equipment
• Special conditions
• Communication systems
• Safety

How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor

We’ll take a look at the electrical contractor licensing procedures and requirements for St. Louis and Kansas City.

Saint Louis

The St. Louis County Board of Electrical Examiners is the body issuing this license.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• At least 12,000 hours of practical experience
• Provide verification of employment, including submission of W2 and the Affidavit of Employment Experience forms
• Score more than 75% on the master electrician examination administered by Prometric
• Submit a licensing application
• Pay the $20 application fee
• Pay the $50 escrow deposit
• $10,000 indemnifying bond
• $500,000 contractor liability insurance

The hours of practical experience can be accumulated in one of the following ways:

• 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship and additional 4,000 hours of work experience
• 8,000 hours of practical experience plus a 2-year degree from an electrical trade school
• 4,000 hours of practical experience plus a 4-year degree in electrical engineering
• 12,000 hours of practical experience while under the employment of an electrical contractor

If you served in the military and received electrical training, you can get credit for those hours as well.

You have 4 hours to answer the 100 questions in the open-book electrical contractor exam.

• Wiring and protection
• General electrical knowledge
• Wiring methods and materials
• Equipment for general use
• Special occupancies
• Special equipment
• Special conditions
• Communication systems
• Safety

The license will require annual renewal every December 31 for a fee of $125.

Kansas City

Requirements for the license:

• Be licensed as a class I master electrician
• Fill out the licensing application and pay the $55 application fee
• Provide proof of contractor liability insurance (minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence)
• License fee – $167

The license gets renewed every 4 years for a $167 fee.

If you want to run your own business, you have to either:

• Hire an electrical supervisor
• Be your own company’s electrical supervisor

To be an electrical supervisor, you must meet these requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Has a high school diploma or GED
• Complete a certificate application and pay the $55 application fee
• Provide 2 notarized reference letters from 2 different companies verifying that you have at least 3 years of experience as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor
• At least 1 year of the 3-year experience must be in the commercial or industrial field
• Score over 70% on the low-voltage electrical exam administered by Prometric or the ICC

The low-voltage electrical exam has 50 questions, is open-book, and lasts 2.5 hours.

• Special conditions
• Communication systems
• General electrical knowledge
• Wiring and protection
• Wiring methods and materials
• Equipment for general use
• Special occupancies
• Special equipment

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Missouri

Enrolling in an apprenticeship program or trade school allows you to gain the necessary trade knowledge and skills.

Apprenticeship Program

Joining an apprenticeship program is a common method to getting licensed as an electrician.

Most apprenticeships are offered by the local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs).

Here, the JATCs provide both the required classroom education and the field experience.

Requirements to enroll in the JATC apprenticeship program:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Submit a certified copy of your birth certificate
• High school diploma or GED transcripts
• Complete one full year of algebra
• Complete one full year of geometry (specific to St. Louis JATC)
• Receive a passing score on the electrical trade aptitude test
• Must become a union member

Requirements to join the non-union-sponsored apprenticeship program:

• Must be at least 16 or 18 years old, depending on the county
• A high-school diploma or GED
• Having a valid driver’s license
• Pass a drug test
• Pass a criminal background check

All the apprenticeship programs follow the local guidelines for licensing.

Trade School

In a trade school, you can earn a certificate or diploma for completing the education and training in electrical work.

Upon completion, the school can help you with job placement so you can earn the necessary experience for licensure.

The table below lists some JATCs and schools that offer approved electrical programs.

Electrician Schools by City

• Columbia1 Schools
• Kansas City1 Schools
• St. Louis4 Schools

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