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How to become an electrician in your state
Becoming an electrician works differently depending on where you live — some states issue one statewide license, while others leave it to individual cities and counties. Pick your state for the straight version: who issues the license, the hours and schooling you'll need, and how to get started. Written and checked by a 30-year journeyman.
The national path in one line: most people start as a paid apprentice, put in roughly four years (about 8,000 hours) of on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, then pass an exam to earn a journeyman license. The details — and who runs it — vary by state. Read the full national guide →
Choose your state
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More state guides are added regularly. Don't see yours yet? Ask the Journeyman and we'll prioritize it.
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Explore field calculators, code references, and apprentice study resources on the electrician side of the site.