Electrician Classes in West Virginia (Top Schools)

O*Net reported a 3% growth of electrician jobs in West Virginia, equivalent to 380 job openings yearly from 2020 to 2030.

With such a good job outlook, you’ll be assured a place in the electrical industry.

So if you’re interested, here’s how to become an electrician in West Virginia.

Potential Salary

West Virginia electricians have the following salary information as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mean Wage:

• Annually – $59,590
• Hourly – $28.65

Regional Salary

How to Become an Electrician in West Virginia

The WV Office of the State Fire Marshal, Regulatory and Licensing Division oversees the licensing regulations for the following electricians:

• Journeyman electrician
• Master electrician
• Specialty electrician
  • ​Electric sign
  • HVAC
  • Low voltage
  • Single-family dwelling

Note: Effective June 16, 2021, apprentice/helper electricians will no longer need to apply for a license to perform electrical work.

Qualifications

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• Successfully pass the required exam

-AND-

Journeyman Electrician

• At least 1 year (2,00 hours) of above ground structural wiring experience; OR,
• Completed a US Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program; OR,
• Completed at least 1,080 hours of WV Department of Education-approved vocational course

Master Electrician

• At least 2 years (4,000 hours) of above ground structural wiring experience

Specialty Electrician

• At least 2 years (4,000 hours) of experience in the chosen specialty
• Can credit up to 1 year (2,000 hours) of approved educational courses toward the experience

License Application

To apply for any of the three licenses, you must submit the following:

• Completed application for examination form
• Exam fee – $25
• Proof of meeting the experience or educational requirements
  • Documented work experience
  • Certificate of completion of apprenticeship or vocational program

After you’ve been approved to sit for and successfully passed the exam, you’ll need to pay a $50 license fee to obtain your license.

Exam Details

The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall administer the electrical licensure exams.

Here are some key exam details that you should know about:

• Exam type – open book with only NEC and Ugly’s Electrical References allowed
• Content – questions are based on the NEC 2020
  • Journeyman / master / single family dwelling – 50 multiple choice questions and 5 calculations
  • Low voltage – 25 multiple-choice questions
  • Electrical sign / HVAC – 20 multiple-choice questions
• Duration – 4 hours
• Passing score – 80%

License Renewal

Your license will expire on June 30 every year.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application online
• Renewal fee – $50

How to Become an Independent Electrical Contractor in West Virginia

The WV Division of Labor, Contractor Licensing Board oversees the licensing regulations for contractors.

Qualifications

You’ll only be required to obtain the electrical contractor license if you’re taking projects exceeding $1,000.

License Application

To apply, you must submit the following:

• Completed and notarized contractor license application form
• Application fee – $90
• Wage Bond Status Affidavit and fee, unless you fall under the exemptions
• Proof of worker’s compensation and unemployment compensation

Exam Details

The Board has contracted with PSI to help administer the contractor exams.

Here are the details for the electrical contractor exam portion:

• Exam fee – $47.50
• Exam content
  • Business and law – 50 questions in 180 minutes
  • Trade – electrical – 75 questions in 180 minutes
• Exam type – open book with only the following references allowed
  • NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management West Virginia
  • NEC
  • American Electricians’ Handbook
• Passing score – 70%

License Renewal

Your license will expire one year from the issuance date.

To renew, you must submit the following:

• Completed renewal application, online, by mail, or in-person
• Renewal fee – $90
• In good standing with the following WV agencies
  • Tax Department – Business Registration
  • Insurance Commissioner’s Office – Workers’ Compensation
  • Secretary of State – Certificate of Authority
  • WorkForce – Unemployment

Electrical Training Programs and Schools in West Virginia

If you want to become a highly-skilled electrician, you must first acquire trade education and training.

To do so, you can either enroll in a trade school or sponsored apprenticeship program.

Trade Schools

In trade schools, you can receive formal training which will help you learn the fundamentals of the trade.

You’ll have knowledge and skills in key areas, such as:

• General wiring of receptacles, switches, and breaker boxes
• Working with conduit
• Motor controls and fire alarms
• Installation of high, medium, and low voltage switches and relays
• Testing, troubleshooting, and repairing electrical systems

Most often, these schools will include apprenticeships in their curricula so you can have real-world experience in the trade.

Apprenticeship Programs

Most apprenticeship programs are sponsored by unions (through JATCs) and non-unions (through private entities).

They offer these programs to help you understand the trade and the industry, as well as ensure the quality of the electrical workforce.

To apply for an apprenticeship, both groups will generally require the following qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Has a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Passing grade in high school algebra
• Valid driver’s license
• Pass the general aptitude test and physical exam
• DD-214 if you’ve received military training

The table below lists some of the schools and associations offering electrical programs in West Virginia.

This page is also available in Spanish.