An electrician must have a license from the Department of Buildings to perform electrical work in New York City. The electrician industry is on the rise and, along with it, the demand for licensed professionals. There is currently a shortage of professional electricians, so it's the perfect time to start this rewarding and lucrative career path. Here are the steps toward the electrical license requirements to become a licensed electrician in New York State.
Yes, you'll need a license to do most electrical work. Some states, such as Indiana, don't have state licenses. However, in these states, local municipalities often manage licenses. Your trade school program will include classroom and laboratory training and, in some cases, may include an internship that will consist of gaining real-world experience working for an electrical contractor company under the supervision of a licensed electrician.
In New York City, for example, electrical licenses are issued by the Department of Buildings, located at 280 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, N. Earn a bachelor's degree in science, as well as 4,900 hours of work experience in electricity under the supervision of a licensed electrician. Some states have different licenses for specialty contractors, while others have only one level of license available. An electrician's license recognizes that you have completed the training necessary to work safely as an electrician in your area.
You only need to get this license if you're starting an electrician business; if you're an officer working for a master electrician, for example, you don't need a business license. Properly trained electricians in the United States are well versed in fire prevention measures as well as electrical distribution systems. Unionized jobs tend to have higher salaries and better benefits, especially for apprentices and official electricians. Within the 10 years prior to applying for a license, you must have seven and a half years of experience in the field, and have dedicated 10,500 hours of that experience to installing, repairing or altering the wiring or appliances involved in the generation of electrical energy, heat or light in buildings or comparable facilities.
The state is constantly expanding, and with every new construction project, trained electricians are needed to perform custom wiring projects. Earn a master's degree in science, along with 3,500 hours of electrical work experience under the supervision of a licensed electrician. In some cities, potential electricians can obtain the equivalent of an officer's license in about four years. In Syracuse, expert electricians need 10 years of experience, while limited electricians must have five years of experience.
The process of becoming an electrician takes time, but you get paid while you learn and gain experience. The state electric board usually issues electrical licenses, but some city boards can grant them. Upon completion of your program, you will move on to working full time as an entry-level apprentice or technician and will begin working to meet licensing requirements.
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