What Certification Do Electricians Need to Work in Florida?

Electricians in the commercial or residential sectors are tradespeople tasked with installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems. It takes extensive training and specialized certifications to become a Florida electrician.

Understanding the state’s unique licensing and training requirements is an important first step for those living in Florida who dream of becoming an electrician.

This blog post will give you everything you need to know about how to become an electrician in Florida.

What Does an Electrician Do?

Electricians typically have distinct tasks based on their expertise level and unique specialization. As with most tradespeople, there are carious electrician career stages, including:

1. Apprentice electrician: Apprenticeships represent a common point of entry for the majority of Florida electricians. As an apprentice, the student works as an assistant guided by a journeyman or master electrician.
2. Journeyman: Following an apprenticeship of four years, a candidate may take the journeyman exam. Successful completion allows them to work as an electrician independently without the supervision of a master electrician.
3. Master electrician: A master electrician holds the highest possible certification in the field. A master electrician is licensed to act as a supervisor over other technicians. They also can open their own electrical contracting businesses.

In addition to passing through these career milestones, an electrician may pursue a wide range of specialized electrical trades. These different types of electrician jobs include:

• Residential: Residential electricians perform installation, repair, and maintenance in private residences.
• Commercial: Commercial electricians service and install commercial building electrical systems. These include systems in hotels, retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues, and necessary add-ons such as the electrics for HVAC systems.
• Outside linework: These types of electricians specialize in maintaining and repairing outdoor power lines. Outside linespeople require greater safety training because this work includes exposure to high-voltage power lines.
• Inside wire work: Inside wire workers install the wiring on residential and commercial properties, connecting them with the electrical grid.
• Marine electrician: A marine electrician maintains the electrical systems of boats and other forms of marine equipment.
• Construction: A construction electrician installs the wiring and related equipment within new buildings as part of the overall construction process.
• Industrial: An industrial electrician specializes in the installation and repair of electrical equipment within industrial facilities such as manufacturing and power plants.
• Automotive: An automotive electrician specializes in caring for electrical systems in cars or trucks.

How To Become An Electrician In Florida

To become an electrician in Florida, you must undergo rigorous training and earn the appropriate certifications. Because Florida does not have a statewide set of regulations governing electricians, the requirements to become a journeyman or master electrician vary from county to county.

It is important that anyone who wants to become an electrician in Florida research and understand the specific requirements in their particular area.

Here’s how you can become a Florida electrician:

Apprenticeship

In Florida, you can pursue training through an apprenticeship either through an electricians’ union or by working under a master electrician. An apprenticeship lets you work for a salary as you learn the trade. It also provides extensive practical experience. You can even study under an electrician who works in a desired specialty. To complete your apprenticeship, you must have 8,000 hours of documented work experience, though that number may vary by county. Generally, it takes four years to complete an electrical apprenticeship. Certain Florida counties also require an apprentice to complete up to 144 hours of classroom study annually. The benefits of trade school are that you get a lot of these hours done while you are in school!

Florida Electrician School

Many trade school programs offer Florida electrician certifications and electrician diplomas to those aspiring to become an electrician. Such degrees can be obtained quickly and are more affordable than a traditional bachelor’s degree. The certification programs offered by electrical schools often make a great entry point for anyone interested in a career as an electrician. For electrical apprentices, these training programs may also help you meet any classroom study requirements in your county.

Become a Journeyman

Once your apprenticeship is complete, you can apply for a journeyman license. While the certification varies by municipality, most candidates must pass an exam to test knowledge and skill. If you pass, you will get your license and can work without supervision. Each Florida county has its own license renewal standards. Still, most expire within a few years, and ongoing education is required for renewal.

Become a Master Electrician

A master electrician is an expert with years of field experience. They can hire and train others, open a business, and get residential work permits. Most Florida counties will let a journeyman electrician take the master electrician’s test within a couple of years of earning certification. The license must be renewed after two years.

Types of Florida Electrician Licenses

Although there is no statewide certification for journeyman or master electricians in Florida, it offers non-mandatory credentials and does require contractor certification, including:

• Electrical contractor: In Florida, electrical contractors must earn a registered or certified contractor license from the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board (ECLB), allowing them to work anywhere throughout the state.
• Registered electrician: Earning a registered electrician’s license is easier but only allows you to work in specific counties or municipalities.
• Journeyman electrician: Each municipality in Florida issues its own journeyman electrician certification. Although requirements vary by county, most require several hundred classroom education hours, successful exam completion, and as many as five years of apprentice work.
• Master electrician: A master electrician certification will vary by county but generally requires that the electrician pass the exam and spend two years working as a journeyman.
• Certified specialty electrical contractor: Contractors with expertise in specific types of installation and maintenance are eligible for this credential, which allows them to work as a contractor anywhere in Florida.
• Registered specialty electrical contractor: Like the certified specialty electrical contractor certification, this credential lets the contractor work only in specific areas of the state.

Getting Started on Your Electrician Certification in Florida

To get a jump start on a career as an electrician in Florida, consider CBT Technology Institute, a premier electrician school in Miami, Florida. We offer an 8-month electrician diploma program in Miami that offers entry-level proficiency and basic skills for entering the field. We also offer a 20-month electrician school program to obtain your Miami associate degree in electrical technology.

Contact CBT Technology Institute’s Miami electrician school today to learn how we can help you as you work toward your electrician certification in Florida.