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

, 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.

The different types of Virginia electrical licenses are:

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

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:

Licenses are issued by the

. The journeyman license fee is between $75 and $200. The average

is $22.03.

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 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.

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

.

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.

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:

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.

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

.

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

I already have a license but:

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