Electrician Classes in Iowa (Top Schools)

Electricians have one of the most stable jobs in the U.S., with those in Iowa expecting 20.2% more jobs up until 2024.

Plus, this occupation offers the possibility of career and educational advancements.

So if you’re interested, here’s how you can become a licensed electrician in Iowa.

Potential Salary

With a positive job outlook, your potential salary will be higher compared to similar occupations.

Iowan electricians will have the following salary information as of May 2021 per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $56,740
• Hourly – $27.28

Regional Salary

How to Become a Licensed Electrician and Electrical Contractor in Iowa

The IA Department of Public Safety, Fire Marshal Division manages the state-wide regulations and licensing of electricians, with the Electrical Examining Board (IEEB) overseeing the process.

Here are the different licenses they will issue:

• Unclassified person
• Apprentice electrician
• Special electrician
  • Irrigation system wiring
  • Disconnecting and reconnecting existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems
  • Sign installation
• Residential electrician
• Journeyman electrician, Class A
• Journeyman electrician, Class B
• Residential master electrician
• Master electrician, Class A
• Master electrician, Class B
• Residential electrical contractor
• Electrical contractor

Note:
Class A license holders are those who have taken the IEEB exams, so no restrictions will be placed on their licenses.
Class B license holders are those who have never taken it, so their licenses will be subjected to restrictions.

Qualifications

IEEB requires you to meet the following qualifications for your chosen license:

Unclassified Person

An unclassified person licensee is someone who assists licensed electricians but has no plans to apply for an apprenticeship.

• Must have been employed by a licensed electrical contractor for more than 100 continuous days
• Must work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman, master, residential, or residential master electrician

Apprentice Electrician

• Must have enrolled in an apprenticeship program registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the U.S. Department of Labor
• Must work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman, master, residential, or residential master electrician

Special Electrician

A special electrician has the expertise to wire or install special classes of electrical wiring, apparatus, equipment, or installations.

• Must present an endorsement
  • Irrigation system wiring
    • Completed 2 years (4,000 hours) of experience in wiring irrigation systems; OR,
    • Successfully passed the IEEB exam
  • Disconnecting and reconnecting existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems
    • Completed 2 years of experience in related works; OR,
    • Successfully passed the IEEB exam
  • Sign installation
    • Connected power to a sign doesn’t exceed 220 volts and 20 amperes
• Must maintain at least $1,000,000 contractor liability insurance

Residential Electrician

A residential electrician has the expertise to wire dwelling units.

• 6,000 hours of experience as an apprentice electrician and passed the IEEB exam; OR,
• 4,000 hours of experience under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman, master, residential, or residential master electrician, at least 1 year of approved electrical trade schooling, and passed the IEEB exam; OR,
• 8,000 hours of experience as a licensed unclassified person, with at least 2,000 of those hours in residential wiring, and passed the IEEB exam; OR,
• Completed an approved residential electrician apprenticeship program and passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application

Journeyman Electrician, Class A

• Completed an approved apprenticeship program, has 4 years of experience as an apprentice electrician, and has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application; OR,
• Holds a current journeyman electrician Class B license and has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application; OR,
• Holds a current out-of-state license, has met the sponsorship requirements for testing for a Class A license, and has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application; OR,
• Holds a current IEEB-issued license except special electrician license, has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application, has completed 54 hours of approved continuing education, and has completed 16,000 hours of verified electrical work; OR,
• Holds a current residential electrician or residential master license, has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application, and has completed 4,000 hours of verified commercial or industrial electrical installations; OR,
• Holds a current IEEB-issued license, has completed an approved post-secondary electrical education program, has completed at least 6,000 hours of verified electrical work, and has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application

Journeyman Electrician, Class B

• 16,000 hours of cumulative experience as an electrician

Residential Master Electrician

• Holds a current residential or journeyman electrician license
• At least 2,000 hours of verified experience
• Successfully passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application

Master Electrician, Class A

• At least 1 year of experience as a journeyman electrician and has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application; OR,
• Holds a current master electrician license issued by an IA political subdivision and 1 year of experience as a journeyman electrician; OR,
• Holds a current Class B master electrician license and has passed the IEEB exam within 24 months of submitting an application

Master Electrician, Class B

• 16,000 hours of cumulative experience as a master electrician

Residential Electrical Contractor

• Holds a current Class A or Class B master or residential master electrician license
• Must have registered as a contractor with the IA Division of Labor (Workforce Development)
• Must maintain at least $1,000,000 general and operations liability insurance

Electrical Contractor

• Holds a current Class A or Class B master or residential master electrician license or employs one
• Must have registered as a contractor with the IA Division of Labor (Workforce Development)
• Must maintain at least $1,000,000 general and operations liability insurance

For complete information about the licensing requirements, check out Administrative Rules Chapter 502.2.

License Application

IEEB requires applicants to apply online through the IA Electrical Licensing and Inspection website.

To apply, all license types must submit these common requirements:

• Completed electrician license application form
• Applicable license fee
• Proof of completing a post-secondary electrical program or apprenticeship program, if applicable
• Any current electrical licenses in force, if applicable
• 3 references who could vouch for the work you perform
• Verifiable electrical work experience

Additional requirements:

• Unqualified person
  • Proof of work experience
• Apprentice electrician
  • Copy of U.S. Department of Labor ETA 671 or program registration
• Special electrician / Class B journey or master electrician
  • Affidavit of work experience
  • Proof of experience
• Residential electrician / Class A journey or master electrician / residential master electrician
  • Completed Testing Sponsorship Request form; OR,
  • If already taken the exam, proof of passing it
• Electrical or residential electrical contractor
  • Completed and notarized Certificate of Responsible Licensed Master form
  • Certificate of liability insurance

Exam Details

IEEB has contracted with PSI to administer the exams.

Your eligibility to test is only valid for six months or two exam attempts, whichever happens first.

The exam, which costs $87 each, will be an open book, with only the authorized references allowed at the testing center.

• Special electrician
  • Irrigation system wiring – 50 questions in 120 minutes
  • Disconnect and reconnect AC and refrigeration systems – 120 minutes
• Residential electrician – 50 questions in 120 minutes
• Journeyman electrician, Class A – 80 questions in 180 minutes
• Residential master electrician – 60 questions in 180 minutes
• Master electrician, Class A – 100 questions in 240 minutes

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

License Renewal

Your license will have the following terms of duration:

• Unclassified person and apprentice electrician – 1 year
• Special, journey-level, and master-level electrician and electrical contractor – 3 years

To renew, you must complete the following:

• Submit a renewal application online
• Pay the renewal fee
• For journeyman and master electricians only
  • Complete 18 CE units, with 6 of those CEUs on the latest National Electrical Code
  • If you haven’t reached the full 3-year license cycle, then 6 CEUs per year you held a license, with a total of 6 CEUs on the NEC

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in Iowa

Learning by doing is the best way to learn a skills trade job like an electrician.

You can gain knowledge and skills by enrolling in a technical school or an apprenticeship program.

In a technical school, you’ll learn topics like the NEC, electrical math, lighting systems, and more.

There, you’ll also receive internships from the school’s partner associations or companies so you can gain field experience.

On the other hand, an apprenticeship program will allow you to earn while learning the trade.

You can contact a local JATC or ABC chapter for an apprenticeship.

Whichever you choose, you’ll become a highly qualified electrician able to provide electrical services to clients upon completion.

Below are some of the schools and organizations that offer an approved electrical training program in Iowa.

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