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New York does not have statewide regulations on the requirements to become an electrician, as this guidance is provided at the county and regional levels.
Because requirements vary, it is essential to research the education and/or training requirements for the area in New York you plan to work.
Becoming a residential electrician starts with a skills training course, after which candidates are required to obtain hands-on training by working as an apprentice, trainee, or helper.
When you complete the required apprenticeship hours, candidates will have gathered enough experience to become a journeyman electrician.
This and other certifications lead to industry specialties, licenses, and successful careers.
According to the BLS, in May 2021, New York is the second-highest-paying state for electricians.
The mean annual wage for electricians in the state of New York is $81,700, which is $20,000 more than the average median salary of the more than 700,000 professional electricians in the country.
Electrician Schools in New York, New York
The Big Apple, or NYC, is divided into five boroughs. The Island of Manhattan represents New York, NY.
The city’s licensing unit, within the Department of Buildings, issues two types of electrician licenses –
- The Master Electrician License is required by anyone who wants to request a building permit for electrical work in New York City.
- The Special Electrician License – is required by anyone who wants to request a building permit for electrical work in New York City while working for a building owner in New York City.
1 Electrical Training Course
The Electrical Training Course is located in mid-Manhattan and is among one of the city’s oldest electrician training schools.
The school has been operating for more than six decades and offers various related electrician and safety coursework.
In addition to a master electrician prep program as either a theory or practical course, the training center offers continuing ed classes to meet yearly licensing requirements.
Address: 32 E 31st St #8, New York, NY
2 Sunset Technology Center
Sunset Technology Center was founded more than 20 years ago, offering practical seminars in the areas of electricity, refrigeration, HVAC, solar panels, and plumbing.
The school was designed to cater to Latin students in New York City and nearby northern New Jersey.
The center’s residential/commercial electricity program provides a certificate of completion (not a license) and takes sixteen weeks to complete.
Address: 208 West 29th St Unit 410, New York, NY 10001
3 The School for Cooperative Technical Education
For more than three decades, the School for Cooperative Technical Education has been offering cutting-edge trade training to students aged 17 to 21.
The school is a half-day program and part of the state’s Department of Education’s Work-Based Learning programs.
Coop Tech students learn about the fields of residential, commercial, industrial, and solar electricity.
Address: 321 E 96th St, New York, NY
4 The Borough of Manhattan Community College
The Borough of Manhattan Community College, which is located in lower Manhattan near Wall Street and Battery Park, offers an affordable residential electrical program that runs 144 hours.
The coursework includes wiring/installation, electrical theory, standard hardware/devices/materials, and more than 30 virtual simulations.
The program from the BMCC prepares students for electrician licensing tests for most jurisdictions.
Graduates of the program are offered a tools discount from certain distributors and industry leaders.
The program is open enrollment, allowing you to start when you are ready.
Address: 199 Chambers Street c/o 25 Broad Street, New York, NY 10007
5 NYC College of Technology
The New York City College of Technology’s Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering Technology department offers a two-year associate’s degree program that provides an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from its Brooklyn campus located across the East River from downtown Manhattan.
This program is ABET accredited and prepares students for a career in the electrical field.
Applicants must be 18 and hold a high school diploma (or equivalent) with a minimum average of 70.
Classes include Circuit Analysis, Electric Machines Theory, Digital Electronics, and Techniques of Electrical Technology, to name a few.
Address: 186 Jay Street, Voorhees Hall, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Electrical Training Course |
|
#2 | Sunset Technology Center |
|
#3 | The School for Cooperative Technical Education |
|
#4 | The Borough of Manhattan Community College |
|
#5 | NYC College of Technology |
Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician
Electrician Schools by City
Electrician Schools by State