All You Need To Know About The Michigan Electrician License

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All You Need To Know About The Michigan Electrician License

Field Service Management
October 26, 2023
9 Min Read

As an electrician, you can work for large corporations or even start your own electrical contracting business and make a perfect living. With the expanding Michigan electrical industry, there is a rising need for trained and certified electricians to build and service electrical systems in customers’ homes and businesses. Your electrical services help them maintain a healthy and comfortable standard of living.

Working as an electrician is a satisfying vocation in high demand and pays well, even though it demands a lot of time, hard effort, and attention. Whether you’re already confident that this is the right profession for you or just looking into your possibilities, it’s critical to understand how the licensing process for electricians in Michigan works so you can make an informed decision about your future.

To operate as an electrician in Michigan, you must obtain a Michigan electrician license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

To pursue a profession as an electrician, you must have a lot of hands-on experience and pass many licensure exams, just like general contractors and plumbers. Once registered as an electrical trainee with the State of Michigan, your license must be renewed every year you work. You must also complete a state-approved electrician training program. After obtaining your general or residential electrician license, you can apply for an electrical contractor license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

For now, Michigan has no reciprocity agreements with other states for electricians. If you hold a license from another state or country, you may be able to obtain one in Michigan if you have comparable experience and training. You may or may not have to take the relevant licensure exam before working as an electrician, depending on your previous experience and the strength of your application.

We will review the basic information needed to become a licensed electrician, answer common questions like how long it takes to get an electrical license in California and define the requirements for this job.

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ALL YOU NEED TO HAVE TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN: SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Flat rate pricing is where you charge a single price for a product or service, regardless of how much it costs to produce or deliver. This cost remains constant regardless of how much time or work is required to finish. An adequately calculated flat rate will cover direct and indirect costs and a healthy profit. Let’s take a case of flat rate pricing in the HVAC business if you’re an HVAC technician and charge a flat rate of X USD for an AC startup. You will receive $X whether it takes one hour or 2 hours, or even if the client requests several adjustments. Whereas in the case of time and material pricing, pricing would change after every hour and every additional request made. Now that we understand how flat rate pricing works let’s know how we should decide on flat rates for products and services for a healthy profit.

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Michigan Electrician License Requirements You Need To Know

To obtain a license in Michigan, electricians must pass an exam covering circuits, conductors, grounding, lighting, and safety. Whether you live in Detroit, Ann Arbor, or another city or county, the resources listed below can help you get started on becoming an electrician.

Unless exempted, anyone performing electrician work in Michigan must be a Michigan resident and licensed. The licenses are issued on a municipal level by the Grand Rapids and Detroit governments.

A Michigan electrician apprentice license is required before you may obtain your Michigan electrician license. In most circumstances, you must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. Vocational high school programs are an exception to this norm. In this situation, children might begin their studies at 16 by paying a $15 registration charge. It is a compensated employment working under a master electrician that pays half to two-thirds of the wage of a journeyman electrician. You will spend the entire day performing basic electrical installations and maintenance. Some programs have simple tools. Others will provide you with a shopping list of tools to purchase.

During your apprenticeship, you must complete 576 hours of classwork, or 144 hours per year for four years. You will also be needed to complete 8,000 hours of electrical work under the supervision of your master electrician.

To get a journeyman electrician license in Michigan, you must be at least 20 years old. You can take the exam once you have completed all of the prerequisites. The state administers all electrical work tests with a $100 application fee. The state will grant your license once you pass the exam, a drug test, and a criminal background check for a $40 license fee.

After two years of experience as a journeyman, you can apply for a master electrician license. This license requires 2000 hours of electrical work experience and the passing of an exam. This license is $50.

Before taking the master electrician exam, you must have a journeyman license for at least two years. Masters must be at least 22 years old and have completed 12,000 hours of electrical trade employment in the previous six years. You can apply for the master’s electrician exam once you have met these requirements.

As an independent electrical contractor in Michigan, you can provide your services to the public, recruit electricians, and run your firm. You must complete an application and present the necessary documentation to gain a license.

Types Of Electrician Licenses In Michigan

In Michigan, there are two types of electricians: journeyman and master, as well as five specialties: electrical contractor, fire alarm specialty technician, fire alarm contractor, sign specialist, and sign specialty contractor. Before beginning work in this trade, all classes, including electrical apprentices, require licensure. To keep your license current and active, you must renew it yearly and continue your education.

Michigan issues two categories of general electrical licenses: journeyman electrician license Michigan and master electrician. They also issue permits in two specialty electrical areas: fire alarm technicians and sign specialists.

Journeyman Electrician License Michigan: Must have at least 8,000 hours of practical experience in electrical construction, building maintenance, electrical wiring, or equipment for four years. A licensed electrician must direct the training. Then they must take the Journeyman Electrician Test in Michigan as the last step.

Michigan Master Electrician License: Requires a minimum of two years of electrical journeyman experience and 12,000 hours of practical practice over six years. Training must be conducted directly under the supervision of a master electrician.

Electrical Contractor License: Must have a master electrician’s license or at least one master electrician on staff full-time. The master electrician is responsible for all electrical wiring and equipment installations and is accountable for code compliance.

Fire Alarm Specialty Technician License: Must be certified as an associate engineering technician, level II, or the equivalent defined by the board in the fire alarm systems technology field by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technology (NICET).

Electrical License Renewal in Michigan

An electrical license does need to be renewed for any type of electrical worker for a minimum of one time per year. The deadline for the renewal for journey and master electricians every year is December 31st, beyond which they get a 60-day gap to renew their license till March. Electrical contractors can wait for a limit of three years but must renew them by March 1st of every third year.

If you miss this gap, then your license becomes useless and you need to start the process of applying for a new one, which would ultimately cost more money.

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How to Apply for an Electrical License Renewal in Michigan

You can apply for the renewal process on this website. If you haven’t used the LARA (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) website before, you’ll have to register before renewing your license.

During the renewal process, you’ll need to pay an annual fee that represents the legality of your license documentation. According to the Skilled Trades Regulation Act, these are the prices for license renewal for the different types of electricians,

Journeyman Electricians – $40
Master Electricians – $50
Fire Alarm Specialty Technicians – $50
Electrical Contractors – $100

Requirements to Apply for an Electrical License Renewal in Michigan

There are certain requirements in order to be able to apply for a renewal of your license, which are basic needs, but are still legally required;

Paying the Renewal Fee
Completing the CE (Continuing Education) requirements (Around 15 hours)
Not having any criminal records or a part of any felony convictions
Having a proper Michigan state-issued ID

Benefits Of Being A Licensed Electrician In Michigan

Most importantly, Michigan law requires a state license to do electrical work legally. Fire protection and electrical distribution systems are well-known to educate electricians throughout the United States properly.

A trade license is documentation of your expertise and skill.

Only certified electricians can establish a business and advertise services, obtain commercial insurance, obtain building permits, pass inspections, and bid on public and government projects.

A license protects both your firm and its customers.

Licensure provides you with a competitive advantage in the employment market.

It also boosts your earning potential.

FAQs

DO YOU NEED A LICENSE TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN IN MICHIGAN?

Can you do electrical work without a license? Can an electrical handyperson work in Michigan? As proof of work hours, you may submit an out-of-state license. On the other hand, anyone who wishes to undertake electrical work in Michigan must pass the state exam, obtain a Michigan electrical license, and pay a modest cost.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BE A MASTER ELECTRICIAN?

You must mostly wonder how long it takes to be a master electrician. Have at least 12,000 hours of experience in electrical construction, building maintenance, or electrical wiring or equipment earned during six years under the direction of a master electrician. The examination must be taken and passed.