Electrician Classes in Wisconsin (Top Schools)

O*Net reported an 11% job growth, equivalent to 1,520 annual job openings, for electricians in Wisconsin from 2020 to 2030.

This would mean more career opportunities and higher-than-average salaries for them.

So if you want to pursue an electrical career, here’s how you can become an electrician in Wisconsin.

Potential Salary

Wisconsin electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021 per the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $64,820
• Hourly – $31.16

Regional Salary

How to Become an Electrician in Wisconsin

The Wi Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) oversees the regulations for the following licenses/registrations:

• Registered electrical apprentice
• Registered industrial electrical apprentice
• Registered residential electrical apprentice
• Registered electrician
• Journeyman electrician license
• Industrial journeyman electrician license
• Residential journeyman electrician license
• Registered master electrician
• Master electrician license
• Residential master electrician license
• Electrical contractor license

Becoming a Registered Electrical Apprentice

Qualifications

To qualify for registration as an electrical apprentice (all 3 types), you must meet these requirements:

• Currently enrolled in a US Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program
• Will be/have been under the supervision of a journey-level or master-level electrician

Registration Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed corresponding application form (#3102 / #3104 / #3110)
• Fees
  • Application – $15
  • Credential – $15
• Copy of the apprenticeship contract or proof of electrical indentureship from the WI Bureau of Apprenticeship Standard

Registration Renewal

Your registration will expire one year from the date of issuance.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $15

Becoming a Registered Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you will be/have been under the supervision of a journey-level or master-level electrician.

Note that you don’t need an electrical apprentice registration to become a registered electrician.

Registration Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed application form (#3108)
• Fees
  • Application – $15
  • Credential – $20

Registration Renewal

Your registration will expire one year from the date of issuance.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $20
• Proof of completing 24 CE hours

Becoming a Licensed Journey-level Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• Successfully pass the required exam

-AND-

Journeyman Electrician

• Completed a US Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program; OR,
• At least 8,000 hours (4 years) of experience or 1,000 hours per year for at least 5 years
  • Can credit up to 2,000 hours (2 years) of experience if you completed a related electrical program from an accredited school

Industrial Journeyman Electrician

• Completed a US Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program; OR,
• At least 1,000 hours of experience in industrial work per year for at least 5 years
  • Can credit up to 2,000 hours (2 years) of experience if you completed a related electrical program from an accredited school

Residential Journeyman Electrician

• Completed a US Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program; OR,
• At least 1,000 hours of experience in residential work per year for at least 3 years
  • Can credit up to 2,000 hours (2 years) of experience if you completed a related electrical program from an accredited school

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed corresponding application form (#3105 / #3106 / #3111)
• Fees
  • Application – $35
  • Credential – $100 (this will be prorated if you’ll apply using the apprenticeship experience)
  • Exam – $30
• Proof of meeting the experience requirements
  • Documented work experience
  • Copy of the certificate of completion of the apprenticeship
  • Copy of official transcripts

Exam Details

DSPS will administer the license exams.

For the journey-level exams, it’ll be open-book with questions covering the following:

• WI Administrative Code SPS 305
• WI Administrative Code SPS 316
• National Electrical Code (NEC)

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

License Renewal

Your license will expire after four years on June 30.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $100
• Proof of completing the required CE hours
  • Journeyman – 24 CE hours
  • Industrial / residential journeyman – 18 CE hours

Becoming a Registered Master Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• Must have been born on or before January 1, 1956
• At least 15 years of electrical wiring experience

Registration Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed application form (#3109)
• Fees
  • Application – $35
  • Credential – $150
• Documented work experience
• Copy of government-issued ID to prove your birth date

Registration Renewal

Your registered master electrician license won’t expire.

Becoming a Master / Residential Master Electrician

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

Master Electrician

Experience/Education and Examination

• Successfully pass the required exam

-AND-

• At least 1 year of journeyman experience; OR,
• At least 10,000 hours (5 years) of experience or 1,000 hours per year for at least 7 years; OR,
  • Can credit up to 3,000 hours (3 years) of experience if you completed a related electrical program from an accredited school
• Has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering from an accredited (engineering) school

License Exchange

• Previously held a WI master electrician license but exchanged it for a journeyman electrician license

Residential Master Electrician

Experience/Education and Examination

• At least 1,000 hours of experience in residential work per year for at least 7 years
  • Can credit up to 3,000 hours (3 years) of experience if you completed a related electrical program from an accredited school
• Successfully pass the required exam

License Exchange

• Previously held a WI residential master electrician license but exchanged it for a residential journeyman electrician license

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed corresponding application form (#3107 / #3112)
• Fees
  • Application – $35
  • Credential – $200 (this will be prorated if you’ll apply for a license exchange)
  • Exam – $30
• Proof of meeting the qualification requirements
  • Documented work experience
  • Copy of your master / residential master electrician license you previously exchanged for a journeyman / residential journeyman license
  • Copy of official transcripts

Exam Details

The master / residential master electrician license exam has the same content as the journey-level exams.

License Renewal

Your license will expire after four years on June 30.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $200
• Proof of completing the required CE hours
  • Master – 24 CE hours
  • Residential master – 18 CE hours

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• Has a designated business representative – you, your partner, chairman, or CEO of the business
• Complied with the worker’s compensation requirements
• Complied with the unemployment compensation requirements

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed application form (#3103)
• Fees
  • Application – $35
  • Credential – $200 (prorated)

License Renewal

Your license will expire after four years on June 30.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application form
• Renewal fee – $200

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Wisconsin

The electrical industry is growing rapidly, so the state needs highly-skilled electricians in its workforce.

That’s why you should undergo trade education and training to acquire the fundamental knowledge and skills the industry requires.

You can obtain this by enrolling in a vocational school or sponsored apprenticeship program.

Vocational School

Enrolling in a vocational school enables you to get a degree, which will be beneficial when applying for entry-level positions.

You’ll learn practical theories and hands-on training in areas such as:

• Electrical codes
• Safety practices and procedures
• Cable tray installation
• Pulling wire and cable
• Installing and wiring service
• Reading blueprints and schematics
• Lighting fixture installation
• Mounting and wiring transformers

Apprenticeship Program

An apprenticeship program is usually sponsored by a union (JATCs) or non-union (private employers).

If you apply through a union, they’ll help you connect with a local employer where you’ll receive supervised training and experience.

Meanwhile, through a non-union, you’ll be working for them as an apprentice, which could lead to potential long-term employment.

Both sponsors will generally look for these qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Has a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Valid driver’s license
• Passing grades in high school algebra
• Pass the general aptitude test
• Pass the medical/physical exam

The table below lists some of the schools and associations offering electrical training programs in Wisconsin.

Electrician Schools by City

• Madison1 Schools
• Milwaukee1 Schools

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