According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for qualified electricians in Arizona is high. The BLS expects that job opportunities for electricians in the state will grow by 18 percent between 2018 and 2028, a huge amount of growth compared to other careers. A career as an electrician is a great option if you like working with your hands, want job security and a good income, and are willing to go to trade school and continue training under a master electrician to become licensed and certified. This page will provide you with information on electrician schools, apprenticeship programs and job opportunities in Arizona. [En Español]

Electrical Apprenticeship Program In Mass
Electrical Apprenticeship Program Az
Electrical Apprenticeship Program Ia

Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Arizona

Every state has its own requirements for training and licensing electricians. In Arizona this is regulated through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, and it is the Registrar that will dictate who can become an electrician in the state. There is no statewide journeyman program, and the Registrar licenses only electrician contractors, either residential, commercial or both. Although there is no state journeyman license, some municipalities or counties may have a license for this level. In Arizona, an electrician in training or with experience but not yet licensed as a contractor may be referred to as a journeyman.

As in other states, to qualify for licensing you must complete several years of education and training. In Arizona you can start with an educational program at an electrician school, usually at a technical or vocational college (there are many such schools in Arizona), followed by apprenticeship training, or you can go directly into an apprenticeship program. Post-secondary programs will give you a good background education and can help you find placement in an entry-level job for ongoing training to prepare for licensing. Training programs will teach you about electrical theory, algebra and electrical calculations, safety code, how to read blueprints, soldering and welding and other aspects of the job.

Following an apprenticeship, you will need to get work experience before qualifying for contractor licensing. To apply for licensing you must be able to prove at least four years of experience after an apprenticeship or training, have a unique company name and pass two exams, one on the trade and the other on business management. The license must be renewed every two years.

Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in Arizona

If you choose an apprenticeship program over a certificate or degree, you have two more choices: union or non-union apprenticeship. There are two union programs in Arizona, in Tucson and Phoenix, which are offered through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union and the National Electrical Contractors Alliance, Arizona chapter. These are organized through Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATC). In Arizona, these are Globe-Miami Electrical JATC (no website), Phoenix Electrical JATC, and the Tucson Electrical JATC. To be accepted you must have a high school diploma or GED, basic math and algebra skills, and transportation. The programs take five years to complete and include 900 hours of class instruction and 8,000 hours of hands-on training.

Non-union apprenticeships are offered through the Arizona Builders Alliance and the Independent Electrical Contractors of Arizona. Both programs take four years to complete and include eight semesters of coursework as well as 8,000 hours of work experience and hands-on training. With any apprenticeship program, students can expect to be placed with a contractor for the hands-on work.

Arizona Schools for Electricians

There are many community colleges, vocational, career, and trade schools in Arizona that offer programs for students interested in an electrician career path. These are typically certificate or associate degree programs that prepare students for a hands-on apprenticeship.

Gateway Community College, Phoenix. This school has several campuses in the Phoenix area and offers both certificate and degree programs for future electricians. The cost for the certificate is $5,310 and for the degree is $7,626. Students may or may not already have an apprenticeship.
Pima Community College, Tucson. Students in the Tucson area can earn an electrician certificate from the electrician school at Pima. It includes 57 credits of coursework including electrical courses as well as computer, math and communications classes. Students may get placement as an apprentice after completing the program or go on to earn an associate degree at Pima in building and construction.
Mesa Community College, Mesa. In Mesa students can choose from several programs, including an associate degree in electronics technology or a certificate in electronics technology or the Salt River project relay apprenticeship. These electrician courses include basic math and algebra, and prepare students to work in entry-level electrical technician jobs or to be placed in an electrician apprenticeship.

To find affordable electrical schools and electrical training, including community college electrician programs near you, use the search box at the top of this page, or click here.

Penn Foster College – Residential Electrician Career Diploma

Nationally Accredited and Licensed School. Support from Expert Faculty and Success Coaches. Up-to-date Material That Complies with the National Electric Code (NEC)®. Snap-On Tool Discount for Trades Students.Call 1-800-851-1819 today.

Outlook and Salary Expectations

Growth in careers for electricians in Arizona is strong. In 2018, according to the BLS, there were 5,490 electricians working in the state. By 2028 there are expected to be almost 1,000 new jobs added to that number, so career opportunities will continue to be numerous in the coming years for those electricians with training and licensing.

The salary expectations are great for this career, too, because of the extensive training required. In 2019 the annual average salary for a licensed electrician was $48,300. There is room for electricians to earn more as the owners of businesses and with years of experience. The top 10 percent of earners in the state made an average salary of $68,490 in 2019.

Salaries in Arizona by Occupation

Occupation	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Wage	Annual Salary 10th Percentile	Annual Salary 25th Percentile	Annual Salary 75th Percentile	Annual Salary 90th Percentile
Electricians	13,810	$23.73	$49,350	$32,220	$38,520	$58,870	$68,490
Helpers--Electricians	1,770	$16.51	$34,330	$26,640	$29,060	$38,520	$43,230
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment	120	$21.73	$45,200	$32,850	$36,550	$54,160	$60,720
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	740	$26.98	$56,110	$34,420	$41,780	$66,530	$77,930
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	260	$40.60	$84,440	$63,880	$76,200	$96,440	$101,710

Electrical Apprenticeship Program Az