Step 1: Join The Apprenticeship Program and Training

If you want to be a master electrician, the first step is to become an electrical apprentice. Accredited apprenticeship programs usually combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. In Georgia, you have to enter an apprenticeship program either through union channels or a non-union (independent) program. Here is a more detailed breakdown of these program types:

Union Apprenticeship 

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has Local unions in Georgia, like Local 613 in Atlanta. Union apprenticeships require almost 8000-9000 hours of on-the-job training for about 4-5 years, along with 576 classroom hours. There are many union programs that require 5 years of apprenticeship with about 180 classroom hours per year. The minimum age is usually 18 years, and you need to give drug and aptitude tests, and complete high school.

Non-Union Apprenticeship

Organizations like the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), or other trade school programs offer non-union apprenticeships. For example, the IEC Atlanta/Georgia chapter runs a four-year apprenticeship program that requires 8000 hours of work and 576 hours of classroom instruction. You generally need a high school diploma or GED (there are some programs that accept younger students if enrolled in a related vocational program), and you must be at least 16-18 years old. Usually, the registered apprentice will attend night or weekend classes at technical colleges while working full-time under a contractor’s supervision.

During the apprenticeship, you are working for a licensed contractor, learning skills like installing wiring, reading plans, and following the National Electrical Code. Apprentices get paid wages that usually start around $15-$20 per hour, which increase each year as they gain skill. Wages vary by union versus non-union. Union apprentices often start at a higher rate due to union-scale wages, but both pathways lead to similar journeyman-level pay once completed.

Whether union or non-union, you are awarded a national journeyman certificate upon completion. Union apprentices get a nationally recognized journeyman card from the U.S. Department of Labor, while IEC and other school provide their own certificates. 

Step 2: Work As A Journeyman Electrician

After you complete an apprenticeship, you become a journeyman electrician. In Georgia, this is not a legal license, but it’s the de facto status of an electrician who has finished the training. A journeyman electrician can perform most electrical work under the direct supervision of a licensed electrical contractor. However, here is a more detailed breakdown of what the roles and responsibilities are:

Roles and Responsibilities Of A Journeyman In Georgia

Usually, as a journeyman, you install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical systems in homes, businesses, or industry. You interpret blueprints, make sure everything remains compliant with electrical code changes, and work independently on tasks like commercial wiring circuits and installing electrical panels without constant supervision. However, you will still be working for an electrical contracting company that holds a state license. You can not pull your own permits. 

Usually, journeymen continue to learn on the job. There are many electricians who remain journeyman for years and gain experience on larger and more complex projects until they qualify for their own contractor license. However, when you are on the job, collect the documentation you will need for the licensing exam, like pay stubs, W-2s, and letters that verify your hours of experience for licensed contractors.

To conclude, if you have completed a union apprenticeship, you already have a journeyman card from the U.S. Department of Labor. While Georgia doesn’t really require journeyman cards, having them can boost your resume. 

Uniquely, because Georgia doesn’t have anything like a licensed journeyman electrician, you can legally work as a journeyman for an electrical contractor without any state-level license once you complete an apprenticeship.

Step 3: Apply For The Electrical Contractor Exam By PSI

In Georgia, the term “Master Electrician” is actually not an official license category. In fact, the top level is a licensed Electrical Contractor (Class I or Class II). Many people use “master electrician” colloquially to mean someone who has passed the licensing exam and holds an unrestricted contractor license. 

Experience Requirements

When it comes to experience requirements, you must be at least 21 years old and have 4 years of experience in electrical work to qualify for an electrical contractor license. This means completing an apprenticeship along with additional time you spent as a journeyman, since most apprenticeships are 4 years long, the board counts those years. Some programs even count 2 years of college-level schooling (such as an electrical engineering degree) in lieu of 1 year of work experience. You must keep in mind that this experience needs to be documented like W-2s and affidavits from employers. 

In conclusion, the board usually expects roughly 8000 hours of documented on-the-job electrical work. Union programs (5-year, 9000+ hour programs) often exceed this, so many applicants end up with 5 years of experience. 

Electrical Licensing Requirements

When you are ready to apply, fill out the “electrical contractor license” application form from the Secretary of State’s site. The application fee is $30, but a $10 processing fee might be required additionally. So, you should check the latest fee schedule. Also, you must submit three references, including one who is a currently licensed electrical contractor in Georgia. The other references can be your employers, supervisors, or others who can vouch for your work experience and character. You also need to provide proof of your 4 years of experience, which is typically via W-2 forms, tax returns, or signed experience affidavits. You need to provide proof that you are 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.