Virginia Electrician License: Everything You Need to Know

Licensed electricians are in demand in Virginia. Residential and commercial property owners depend on these professionals to repair, install, and maintain electrical wires. Due to the massive growth of the electrical industry, electricians enjoy competitive wages and job security.

If you are ready for new career challenges, consider applying for a Virginia electrical license. Read this guide to learn how to get a license and find job opportunities.

Does Virginia Require an Electrical License?

All residential and commercial electrical work in Virginia must be completed by a licensed electrician.

What are the Different Types of Electrical Licenses in Virginia?

The different types of Virginia electrical licenses are:

• Journeyman electrician

• Master electrician

Journeyman electrician licensees are authorized to install, modify, and maintain electrical controls, systems, and apparatus. Applicants for the journeyman electrician license must:

• Receive approval to sit for the journeyman exam

• Pass an examination

• Have two years of on-the-job electrician training

• Possess a high school diploma or GED

• Complete a two-year electrical program at a community college or trade school

• Provide proof of work experience and education

Master electrician licensees are authorized to maintain, install, and repair electrical equipment, control systems, and electrical wiring. Master electricians supervise and monitor electrician apprentices and journeyman electricians. Applicants for the master electrician license must:

• Be at 18 years old

• Pass an examination

• Have at least one year of journeyman electrician experience

• Possess 10 years of electrician experience (if you do not have a journeyman license)

• Provide proof of work experience

Licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The journeyman license fee is between $75 and $200. The average hourly pay for Virginia electricians is $22.03.

How to Get an Electrician License in Virginia

Applicants must have experience and classroom training to get approved for a journeyman electrician or master electrician license. You can submit an application to an apprenticeship program in Virginia to start your electrician career.

Virginia electrician apprenticeship programs:

• Richmond Electrician JATC

• Virginia Registered Apprenticeship

• IBEW Local 1340 Training

Virginia electrician apprenticeship program information: Virginia apprenticeship application fees are between $25 and $50. Expect to pay up to $10,000 for electrical training from a trade school or community college. Accredited colleges and trade schools generally offer financial aid options for students. Sponsors pay for some apprenticeships. Virginia electrician courses are available in a classroom or online.

Virginia electrician apprenticeship prerequisites:

• Be at least 18 years old to enroll

• Have a high school diploma or GED

• Attend an interview

• Be physically capable of performing work

• Pass a general aptitude examination

• Have taken and passed an Algebra I class

On-the-Job Experience:

• Perform electrical installations for commercial and residential properties

• Learn Virginia electrical codes and safety requirements

• Install and connect wires

• Attend electrician training courses as required

• Replace and repair electrical wires in existing dwellings

• Perform all jobs under the direction of a licensed electrician

Virginia license examination information: The journeyman electrician test has 70 questions. Applicants must score a 49% to pass the journeyman electrician test. The master electrician test has 90 questions. Applicants must score at least a 63% to pass the exam. Test fee ranges from $100 - $125 per test. Exams are administered by PSI.

Virginia electrical examination content includes:

• Electrical/Electronic Fundamentals

• Electrical Installations

• Electrical Signs and Outline Lighting

• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

• Standards of Practice

• Renewal and Reinstatement

• Definitions

• Revocation of Licensure

• General Low Voltage Requirements

Test Preparation Resources:

• Virginia Electrician License Exam

• American Contractors Exam Services

• VA Master Electrician - PSI Exam Online

Should I Join an Electrician Union in Virginia?

Virginia unions require electricians to pay membership dues to join. Although dues range from $100 to $200 per month, joining a union is worth the expense. More than 90% of union members are insured by their employers. Unions negotiate competitive salaries for electricians. Union members get pension plans and sick pay.

How to Use Your Electrician License to Get a Job

There are hundreds of electrician jobs with small businesses, large corporations, and government organizations. Search the following websites for apprenticeships and licensed electrician jobs in Virginia:

• Electrical Agent

• CareerBuilder

• Electrical Jobs Today

• Glassdoor

Electrician Insurance in Virginia

Electricians face risks each day. They work in tight spaces. Electricians climb on tall buildings and ladders. Live wires burn and shock electricians. They operate company vehicles on wet and snowy road conditions.

Virginia electricians are required to have general liability insurance coverage at all times. If you are employed by a company, you may be covered under your employer's policy. If you own a business, you are responsible for your coverage.

Electrician Industry Trends

A record number of new homes and office buildings are being built in major cities and suburban areas. Electricians are needed to install new electrical wires and systems in these properties.

Older homes and power grid lines do not have enough power to handle the demands of new technologies. Companies hire electricians to reconfigure power grid lines. To learn more about new trends in the electrical industry, attend trade shows.

Is My License Only Valid in Virginia?

The Virginia electrician licensing board has reciprocity agreements with Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Alabama.

I already have a license but:

• I changed my name - Submit a name change form.

• I misplaced the card - Apply for a duplicate card.

• I changed my address - Submit an address change form.

How Often Do I Need to Renew My Electrician License in Virginia?

Renew your Virginia electrical license every year. The electrician license renewal fee is between $75 and $200.

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