Electrician Schools in Michigan (Top Programs)

Training

All electricians need to train for 8,000 hours in Detroit under the supervision and 576 hours of classroom instruction

In Grand Rapids, 2,000 hours can be substituted by a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, and another 1,000 hours may be substituted by a course issuing an associate degree, diploma or certificate.

The training can be done through a:

• Traditional apprenticeships, through unions and non-unions
• Vocational-technical school

Those interested should contact the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee (MASCI), as this institution has an updated list of approved programs.

There are several other resources for finding apprenticeships, such as MEATA, MIRoad2Work, and Michigan Workforce Development Agency.

To be accepted, you must:

• Be 18 years old
• Graduate high school/GED
• Be a Michigan resident
• Pass a drug screening test
• Pass a criminal background check
• Have reliable transportation

Those applying in Grand Rapids or Detroit must be residents of those cities.

These are some of the classes in an electrical apprenticeship training program:

• Basic HVAC
• Blueprint reading
• Branch circuit distribution
• Electrical theory and grounding
• Fire alarm systems
• Industry orientation (Michigan laws and rules)
• Material identification
• Mathematics
• Motor and their controls
• National Electrical Code
• OSHA/Safety Awareness
• Overcurrent protection
• Programmable controllers
• Transformers

Apprentice Registration

Residents of Grand Rapids or Detroit must seek apprentice registration through local licensing organizations.

In other parts of Michigan, individuals should seek a local training program but they must apply through the state.

Registration in Detroit:

• Fill in the apprentice registration application, along with your employer/trainer
• Include a passport-sized photo,
• Documentation of your training course,
• Documentation of your employer,
• A copy of  your Michigan driver’s license

The documents must be sent to the Electrical Inspection Division Board of Electrical Examiners in Detroit.

Those approved must submit the registration fee of $15 in-person to the Electrical Division, where they will be issued the Apprentice Registration.

Registration in Grand Rapids:

• Fill in the Application with your employer/trainer
• Include a check or money order of $10

Submit the application to the City of Grand Rapids Design & Development Services Dept. Building Inspections Office/Electrical Trade.

Registration elsewhere in Michigan:

• Fill in the Application with your employer/trainer
• Include a check or money order of $15

Applications are done for either Electrical Apprentice or Fire Alarm Specialty Technician Apprentice.

Submit the application to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Construction Codes/Electrical Division.

Those with military experience and training in the electrical field may not need to pay the fees, and their experience can be credited.

Journeyman

The process of becoming a journeyman electrician depends on where the individuals live, however, the requirements are similar.

Journeyman Electrician License in Detroit

In Detroit, an Electrical Journeyman can install or alter electric wiring.

Requirements:

• Be 20 years old
• Be a legal resident of Detroit
• Have a current Electrical Apprentice Registration
• Prove the completion of 8000 hours of work experience and 576 hours of RTI over 4 years

Needed documents:

• License application in 2 copies
• 2 passport-sized photos
• A copy of your driver’s license, both sides
• A notarized letter from your employer attesting the completion of your apprenticeship

Those who are approved will need to pay the exam fee of $55, and then schedule it.

During the exam, you’re allowed to use the State Electrical Code, Public Act 217 and the National Electrical Code.

Candidates have 2.5 hours to solve 80 multiple-choice questions, covering:

• National Electrical Code
• Fundamentals and Practical Electricity
• Part 8 Rules

The passing score is 75%, and those who pass must pay the journeyman license fee of $45.

Journeyman Electrician License in Grand Rapids

Conditions to apply for a journeyman license:

• 20 years old
• A legal resident of Grand Rapids
• Fill out the exam application
• Submit proof of completing the apprenticeship
• Submit the examination fee – $25

The exam has fixed dates throughout the year, and the application must be sent 15 days before it.

During the 3 hours long exam, individuals can use a current copy of the National Electrical Code.

Those who pass need to submit a license application with the license fee, of $25.

Journeyman Electrician License in the State of Michigan

Conditions to take the exam:

• Be 20 years old
• Reside in Michigan, except Grand Rapids or Detroit
• Fill out the application for the Examination,
• Proof of completed apprenticeship

The application and supporting documents must be sent to the Electrical Division in Lansing.

PSI Exams notifies those who are accepted to take the exam and instructed on how to schedule it.

The exam costs $100 and the fee is payable to PSI Exams.

The exam has 80 questions, a duration of 2.5 hours and the passing score is 75%.

Candidates may consult the National Electrical Code, 1956 PA 217, and the Michigan Electrical Code Rules Part 8 during the exam.

The exam covers:

• The electrical administrative act,
• Boxes and cabinets
• The current electrical code rules,
• Grounding and bonding,
• Overcurrent protection,
• Load calculations
• Wiring methods and installations
• Feeders,
• Services,
• Motors and motor controls
• Special occupancies,
• Appliances,
• Lighting,
• Box and raceway fill,
• Power limited circuits
• Electrical theory

Those who pass need to pay $40 for the journeyman electrician license.

The state of Michigan doesn’t have a reciprocity agreement with any state for any electrical license.

Master Electrician

After working as a Journeyman Electrician in Michigan, you may wish to pursue a Master Electrician’s License.

Become a Master Electrician in Detroit

In Detroit, a Master Electrician can supervise the installation of electrical wiring and equipment.

Requirements:

• 22 years old
• Be a resident of Detroit
• 2 years of experience as a journeyman electrician
• Accumulate 12,000 hours of experience in at least 6 years under the direct supervision of a Master Electrician

You need these documents:

• 2 applications for the master electrician license
• A copy of your current Michigan driver’s license – front and back
• 2 passport-sized photos
• A notarized letter from your employer attesting to the accumulation of the minimum experience

These documents must be sent to the Electrical Division, and those approved need to pay the exam fee of $63 and then schedule it.

Candidates have 3 hours to solve the 75 multiple choice questions while consulting their codebooks.

The exam covers:

• Public Act 217/Part 8 Rules
• National Electrical Code
• Calculation Problems
• Electrical Theory and Concepts

Those who pass will need to pay the master electrician license fee of $55 to the Electrical Division.

Become a Master Electrician in Grand Rapids

Requirements to take the exam:

• A resident of the city
• 2 years of experience as a journeyman
• Proof of having accumulated 12,000 hours of practical experience over 6 years
• Fill out the application
• Exam fee – $25

Those who are accepted can take the exam, and if they pass, they’ll need to pay $50 for the license.

Become a Master Electrician elsewhere in Michigan

Requirements to take the exam:

• 22 years old
• Live in Michigan, outside Grand Rapids or Detroit
• Proof of having accumulated 12,000 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a Master Electrician
• Fill out the application

PSI Exams organizes the master electrician exam for a fee of $100.

The exam covers the candidates’ knowledge of planning and supervising electrical installations in all categories with 75 questions in 3 hours.

The passing score is 75% and the codebooks are allowed in the examination room.

The exam can be taken twice in the course of 2 years, and those who fail it will have to reapply.

The license costs $50.

Independent Electrical Contractor

Electrical contractors run their own businesses.

Requirements:

• Have a master electrician license
• Score 75% on the exam

The exam costs $100 and the candidates have 1.5 hours to answer 40 questions.

Detroit

Process:

• Fill out the registration
• Copy of  the master electrician license
• Fill out 2 licensing applications
• Registration fee – $25
• Copy of your driver’s license (front and back)
• Pass the exam

The master electrician license can be that of someone you hire.

Those approved to take the electrical contractor exam must pay $55.

They have 1.5 hours to answer the 40 multiple choice questions which cover:

• Electrical Code Rules
• Electrical Administrative Board Rules
• Electrical Administrative Act 217 of 1956
• Act 230 of 1972
• Act 497 of 1980- Construction Lien Act

The contractor’s license costs $55.

Grand Rapids

Process:

• Fill out the application
• Have a master electrician license
• Pay the exam fee – $25
• Score at least 75% on the test

The exam has 40 multiple-choice questions and those who pass it need to fill out the application for City Electrical Contractor License.

The application must be accompanied by a fee of $100 and a copy of your Master Electrician License.

Salary

An electrician in Michigan can expect to earn on average, at least $48,000 per year, as can be seen in the table below.

Regional Salary in Michigan

Renewing the License

The apprenticeship registration, journeyman licenses, must be renewed yearly, in both Detroit and Grand Rapids.

The journeyman license in Michigan renews annually for $40 after you complete a course of 15 hours covering the updates to the National Electrical Code.

The master electrician license renews every year in all jurisdictions of Michigan, for a fee of $5o, besides Grand Rapids and Detroit.

In Grand Rapids, the renewal of the license costs $100 every year.