Electrician Classes in Colorado (Top Schools)

According to the CO Office of Labor Market Information, electrician jobs will grow by 36.7% between 2012 and 2022.

This will mean stable employment and more job opportunities for electricians in Colorado.

Because of this, young individuals like to join this growing and competitive profession.

Below, you’ll learn what it takes to become a professional electrician in Colorado.

Potential Salary

Due to the high job outlook, electricians in Colorado can earn a stable income.

They can have the following salary information as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $58,440
• Hourly – $28.10

Regional Salary

How to Become a Licensed Electrician in Colorado

The CO State Electrical Board regulates the statewide licensing for electricians.

They will oversee the following:

• Registration of apprentice electricians
• License issuances of…
  • Residential wireman
  • Journeyman electrician
  • Master electrician
  • Electrical contractors

Becoming an Apprentice Electrician

Qualifications

The Board has simple requirements for the registration of apprentice electricians.

• Successful entry into an apprenticeship program
• Must be under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician

There are three ways you can apply for an apprenticeship:

• Join a local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC)
• Join a non-union-sponsored apprenticeship program
• Attend an electrician training program at an accredited technical school

Most electrician apprenticeship programs will require you to meet these qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Passing grade in high school algebra
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Pass the general aptitude test and interview

In the program, you will learn the necessary knowledge and skills of the trade, including:

• Grounding and bonding
• National electric code and changes made
• Wiring methods
• Theory and calculations
• 10 and 40 hours of OSHA-based safety training

State Registration Application

The Board requires employers to register their apprentices within 30 days from the start date of the apprenticeship.

They will do it through the CO Division of Professions and Occupations Online Services Portal.

Afterward, the Board will issue you, the apprentice, a card with your apprentice registration number.

State Registration Renewal

Your registration will need to be renewed every year on January 1, until you completed the apprenticeship or have become a licensed journeyman electrician.

To renew, your employer must submit…

• A renewal application through the online portal
• Your cumulative practical training hours and certified classroom hours

Becoming a Journey-level and Master-level Electrician

Qualifications

The Board requires that you meet the qualifications for each license type:

• Residential wireman
  • 4,000 hours of residential-only experience in no less than two years
• Journeyman electrician
  • 8,000 hours of experience in no less than four years, of which 4,000 hours must be in commercial or industrial work
  • 288 hours of classroom instruction (if registered on or after 1/1/2011)
• Master electrician
  • Cumulative 10,000 hours of experience*, of which 4,000 hours must be in commercial or industrial work; OR,
  • Holds an electrical engineering degree at an accredited school plus 2,000 hours of experience as a registered apprentice electrician; OR,
  • Graduated from an electrical trade school or community college plus 8,000 hours of experience**

*The Board may count the hours you gained as an active residential wireman or journeyman electrician.
Also, the 10,000-hour experience must include planning, layout, and supervision.
**As listed in the journeyman electrician license requirement

License Application

In applying for the license, you will submit an application through the online portal.

This must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Affidavit(s) of experience
• Transcripts
• Information on other electrician licenses you may hold
• Information on your current employer
• Active apprentice registration, if applicable
• General and criminal history with supporting documents, if applicable
• License exam results
• Application fee

Once the Board approves after review, then you can obtain your license.

Exam Details

The Board has contracted PSI to help administer the licensure exams.

The exam will cost $78 for initial testing and $73 for retesting.

Do note that your eligibility to test will have a one-year validity.

The exams for all license types will be open-book, consisting of 90 questions to be completed in 240 minutes.

It will include the latest National Electrical Code, along with the following topics:

• Residential wireman
  • General electrical knowledge
  • Services, feeders, and branch circuits
  • Grounding and bonding
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Conductors and cables
  • Raceways and boxes
  • Special equipment
  • Electrical devices
  • Electrical calculations
• Journeyman electrician
  • General electrical knowledge
  • Services, feeders, and branch circuits
  • Grounding and bonding
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Conductors and cables
  • Raceways and boxes
  • Special occupancies
  • Special equipment
  • Electrical devices
  • Motors
  • Transformers
  • Photovoltaics
  • Electrical calculations
• Master electrician
  • General electrical knowledge
  • Services, feeders, and branch circuits
  • Grounding and bonding
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Conductors and cables
  • Raceways and boxes
  • Special occupancies
  • Special equipment
  • Electrical devices
  • Motors
  • Transformers
  • Photovoltaics
  • Electrical calculations
• 6-plus-year apprentice exam (exclusive to CO journeyman electrician aspirants)
  • General electrical knowledge
  • Services, feeders, and branch circuits
  • Grounding and bonding
  • Overcurrent protection
  • Conductors and cables
  • Raceways and boxes
  • Special occupancies
  • Special equipment
  • Electrical devices
  • Motors
  • Transformers
  • Photovoltaics
  • Electrical calculations

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

License Renewal

Your license will expire after three years.

To renew, you must…

• Submit a renewal application through the online portal
• Complete 24 hours of continuing education
  • At least four hours of NEC Changes
  • Up to four hours of safety courses related to the electrical industry
  • Remaining hours can be from the following:
    • Grounding and bonding
    • Wiring methods
    • Theory and calculations
• Provide other information applicable
• Pay the renewal fee

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

Qualifications

As an electrical contractor, you can organize, oversee, install, repair and maintain electrical devices.

To become one, you must meet these requirements:

• Hold a master electrician license or employ a licensed master electrician as the Responsible Master Electrician (RME)
• Evidence of compliance with worker’s compensation and unemployment compensation laws

Often, local jurisdictions will have additional electrical contractor requirements.

So be sure to contact the local government in the area you intend to work.

License Application

Through the online portal, submit your application along with the following:

• Acknowledgment of Responsibility form identifying the RME
• Information about the business owner(s), if different from the RME
• Unemployment and worker’s compensation insurance information
• If you’re an entity, business registration with the CO Secretary of State
• If you’re an out-of-state corporation, obtain an Authority to Conduct Business in the State of Colorado from the CO Secretary of State
• Application fee

License Renewal

Your contractor’s license will expire after three years.

To renew, you need to…

• Submit a renewal application through the online portal
• Provide other information applicable
• Pay the renewal fee

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Colorado

Most aspiring electricians would prefer to attend a postsecondary program to learn the fundamentals of the trade.

These programs can be short-term certificate programs or two-year associate degrees.

Some schools will offer programs inclusive of apprenticeship while others don’t.

If your chosen school happens to be the latter, they will contact local union or non-union sponsors for your apprenticeship.

The following electrical companies work with Colorado training schools for hands-on training:

• Sturgeon Electric Company in Henderson
• Encore Electric in Englewood
• Dynalectric Colorado in Lakewood

Electrician Schools by City

• Aurora3 Schools
• Colorado Springs1 Schools
• Denver5 Schools
• Fort Collins3 Schools

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