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Job Outlook
According to Virginia Workforce Connection, electrician jobs will see an 11.3% increase until 2024.
Electricians in the State of Virginia are paid $47,198 annually, though the salary can reach $53,782 per year.
By contrast, these salaries are a bit lower than at the national level, as the average one is $47,951 per year and the highest $54,640 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Electricians in Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $45,865 |
| Norfolk | $45,150 |
| Chesapeake | $45,093 |
| Richmond | $48,071 |
| Newport News | $44,920 |
| Hampton | $44,920 |
| Alexandria | $53,336 |
| Portsmouth | $45,150 |
| Roanoke | $44,257 |
| Lynchburg | $43,968 |
If you are interested in building a career in this industry, read on the steps for becoming an electrician in Virginia.
Become an Apprentice
To become a journeyman in Virginia, you need 8,000 hours of experience along with 240 of theory.
To get trained, you can enroll in a trade school which requires:
- To be 18 years old
- High school diploma/GED
- High school level algebra classes
The programs cover topics like:
- Electrical Basics and Tools
- Electrical Panels
- Conduit Work
- Grounding and Wiring
- Wiring Protection Devices
- Electrical Boxes, Receptacles, and Switches
- Wiring a Residence
- Installing Lighting, Ceiling Fans, and Appliances
- Commercial Wiring & Installation
- Circuits & Systems
After getting a diploma, you can gain experience with an internship that is usually provided by the school.
Later on, you can get hired by the same company and start an entry-level electrician job.
You can also attend a union or non-union program or search for contractors who are hiring new staff.
The Virginia Department of Labor, Board of Contractors approved 58 educational providers for the theory training.
24 Electrician Schools in Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Associated Builders & Contractors | 42680 Trade W Dr, Sterling, VA 20166 |
| Associated Builders & Contractors | 1600 East Parham Road Richmond, VA 23228 |
| Associated Builders & Contractors | 5505 Robin Hood Rd. Suite D Norfolk, VA 23513 |
| Associated Builders & Contractors | 42680 Trade West Drive Dulles, VA 20166 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | One College Lane Weyers Cave, VA 24486 |
| Dabney S. Lancaster Community College — Clifton Forge Campus | 1000 Dabney Drive Clifton Forge, VA 24422 |
| Danville Community | 1008 South Main Danville, VA |
| Eastern Shore Community College | 29300 Lankford Highway Melfa, VA 23410 |
| IEC Chesapeake | 8751 Freestate Drive Laurel, MD 20723 |
| JATC of Richmond Electricians | 11255 Air Park Road Ashland, VA 23005 |
| JATC of Hampton Roads | 553 Industrial Park Drive Newport News, VA 23608 |
| John Tyler Community College | 13101 Jefferson Davis Highway Chester, Virginia 23831-5316 |
| Lord Fairfax Community — Middletown Campus | 173 Skirmisher Middletown, VA |
| Mountain Empire Community College | 3441 Mountain Empire Road Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 |
| New River Community | 5251 College Drive Dublin, VA |
| Northern VA Community (Multiple Locations in Northern Virginia) | 6699 Springfield Center Drive Springfield, VA 22150 |
| Paul D. Camp Community (PDCCC) — Franklin Campus | 100 North College Drive Franklin, VA 23851 |
| Paul D. Camp Community — Hobbs Suffolk Campus | 271 Kenyon Suffolk, VA |
| Paul D. Camp Community — Smithfield Campus | 253 James Street Smithfield, VA 23430 |
| Southside Virginia Community College | 1300 Greensville County Circle Emporia, VA 23847 |
| Tidewater Community College — Chesapeake Campus | 1428 Cedar Road Chesapeake, VA 23322 |
| Training at Tidewater Electrical | 828 Providence Road Chesapeake, VA 23325 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | 100 VHCC Drive Abingdon, VA 24210 |
| Wytheville Community College – Main Campus | 1000 East Main Street Wytheville, VA 24382 |
Getting Your Apprenticeship Registered
Before you start your program, you need to register your apprenticeship with the Virginia Department of Labor.
As an apprentice, you can work for major electrical companies or contractors in the state, and it’s very common to join a union for an apprenticeship.
For this, you need to become a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
The Associated Builders and Contractors Inc (ABC) and Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) also provide non-union apprenticeship programs for those who prefer not joining the union.
Pass the Journeyman Exam
To qualify for the test, you must have:
- 240 hours of education and 4 years of work experience
- 160 hours of education and 5 years of work experience
- 80 hours of education and 6 years of work experience
- 40 hours of education and 7 years of work experience
You can also apply for the exam if you have a 2-year degree without an apprenticeship.
Submit your application to:
- Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- 9960 Mayland Dr. Suite #400
- Richmond, VA 23233
The exam lasts for 3.5 hours, has 70 questions, requires a score of 49 to pass and costs $100.
The topics cover:
- Standards of Practice (3 Items)
- Standards of Conduct (2 Items)
- Renewal and Reinstatement (2 Items)
- Definitions (1 Item)
- Qualification for Licensure (1 Item)
- Revocation of Licensure (1 Item)
- General Electrical Knowledge (3 Items)
- Requirements for Electrical Installations (3 Items)
- Fire detection and alarm systems (2 items)
The journeyman license needs to be renewed every 2 years for a fee of $90 and requires 3 extra education hours.
Become a Master Electrician
To become a master electrician, you need experience of a year as a journeyman or 10 years of electrical experience.
The test has 90 questions, lasts for 4.5 hours, and requires a score of 63 to pass.
The topics covered are:
- Standards of Practice (3 Items)
- Standards of Conduct (2 Items)
- Renewal and Reinstatement (2 Items)
- Definitions (1 Item)
- Qualification for Licensure (1 Item)
- Revocation of Licensure (1 Item
- General Electrical Knowledge (4 Items)
- Requirements for Electrical Installations (4 Items)
- Electrical-Electronic Fundamentals (5 Items)
- Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (9 Items)
- Service and Feeder Requirements (6 Items)
- Grounding and Bonding (9 Items)
- Conductors and Cables (7 Items)
- Raceways and Boxes (8 Items)
- Special Occupancies (4 Items)
- Special Equipment (2 Items)
- Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting (2 Items)
- Motors and Controls (8 Items)
- Utilization Equipment (6 Items)
- Lighting (2 Items)
- General Low Voltage Requirements (1 Item)
- Communication Systems (1 Item)
The master electrician license needs a 2-year renewal, for which 3 extra hours of education have to be completed.
Electrician Schools by City
