A career as an electrician is a very exciting one. The field involves a lot of critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. To become an electrician in North Carolina, interested individuals will enjoy a straightforward route involving great flexibility and top-quality alternatives.
Even though the path is straightforward, people who need help to figure out what to expect from the start may need help identifying the most critical steps.
To that end, we have provided a comprehensive resource below where aspiring electricians in North Carolina can find all the necessary considerations they need to know before they begin their journeys.
How to Become an Electrician in North Carolina
The following are the key considerations for becoming an electrician in North Carolina.
Basic Requirements
As a prerequisite, aspiring electricians in North Carolina should ensure they have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Most vocational schools and even apprenticeship training programs will ask for these requirements. Individuals should also be prepared to tender a current driver’s license.
Formal Training
Formal training for electricians in North Carolina is available at community colleges and vocational schools such as Coastal Carolina Community College and Caldwell Community College. These programs provide a strong foundation in theoretical principles and a possible certificate or degree upon graduation.
Additionally, graduating from formal training programs may help individuals earn valuable college credits that may be leveraged to pursue even more advanced areas of electrical technology.
Most academic training programs can be completed between a few weeks, a few months, and a few years, depending on the scope of study.
Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship programs offer another acceptable avenue to start an electrician career by learning on the job. To ensure that students are well-versed in all areas of electrical technology, some apprenticeship programs also incorporate significant classroom training during the beginning of the program.
Most electrician apprenticeship programs in North Carolina take four years to complete and offer job placement assistance upon graduation.
Electrician in Training
Lastly, as an aspiring electrician in North Carolina, you may also be trained by working as an assistant under a practicing electrician. As long as the electrician is licensed, you may leverage your experience to consolidate classroom training obtained from an academic program.
From there, you can branch out independently and apply for a license.
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Licensure and Certification Requirements
In North Carolina, licensing requirements are the prerogative of cities and municipalities. Below are the requirements for a few areas in the state.
Raleigh
To become licensed in Raleigh, an electrician must have 2 years of work experience. Electricians in Raleigh who don’t have 2 years of work experience may qualify through 36 credit hours of formal education at a recognized electrical technology institution.
Candidates will then have to take an exam administered by the City of Raleigh Electrical Examining Board. A 75% score is enough to pass the exam.
Charlotte/Mecklenburg County
In Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, candidates must have 4 years of work experience to qualify for a license. The body responsible for licensing electricians in Mecklenburg County is the County Code Enforcement Department.
Applicants must also take a journeyman electrician exam administered by the North Carolina Association of Electrical Contractors.
Greensboro
Greensboro also requires at least 4 years of work experience and success in a journeyman examination.
Top Electrician Schools in North Carolina
Below are some of the top electrician schools in North Carolina.
Coastal Carolina Community College
At Coastal Carolina Community College, students can earn their electrical systems technology diploma. This will qualify them for entry-level positions in general electrical establishments.
Students may also opt for a residential or industrial electrical systems technology certificate.
Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College is another top-quality destination for electrical technology training. The school offers a certificate in electrical technology and an associate degree in electrical systems technology.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Students who apply for the Electrical Technology program at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute will learn everything they need to become skilled electrical line workers. The school provides job placement assistance along with excellent instructors and modern workshops.
Explore electrician schools by city:
Salary & Career Outlook
The annual average salary for electricians in North Carolina is $53,799. Those who earn the most in the state can earn an average salary of $83,263 annually. Those in the lower earning bracket will still make an annual average salary of $34,761.
There is a $12,000 differential between electricians with one year’s experience and electricians with more than 10 years’ experience in North Carolina.
Concerning location, Mebane, Fayetteville, and Kannapolis are the cities with the highest pay rates for electricians in North Carolina. Electricians in these places earn an annual average salary of $59,736, $57,740, and $56,587.
Raleigh and Durham are the fourth- and fifth-top-earning cities, with annual average salaries of $55,604 and $54,042, respectively.
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