how to become an electrician in georgia

Georgia Electrical License: How To Become An Electrician In Georgia (2024 Guide)

Last updated on February 26th, 2024.

Looking to kickstart your career as an electrician in Georgia? You’re exactly where you need to be.

So if you want to:

  • Find out where to get an electrical apprenticeship in Georgia
  • Understand Georgia’s electrical licensing requirements
  • Learn how to get started as an electrical apprentice in Georgia

Then you’ll love the detailed information in this guide.

Let’s dive right in.

How To Become An Electrician In Georgia

In Georgia, you don’t need a state license to start your journey as an electrician.

A license is only required to work as an electrical contractor (perform work as a service/open your own company).

There are two types of electrical contractor licenses Georgia: 

  • Electrical Contractor Class I (restricted)
  • Electrical Contractor Class II (unrestricted)

Your first step towards becoming an electrician in Georgia is picking the right apprenticeship, be it union or non-union.

In order to work in the trade without direct supervision, you’ll be required to meet standard training requirements from employers.

Training requirements include:

  • 8000 hours of work experience (5 years)
  • 180 hours of classroom education per year

After completing your apprenticeship you’ll be able to legally work for an electrical contractor without direct supervision and without the need to test for a license or certification.

First, choose an electrical apprenticeship closest to you.

IBEW – NECA Electrical Apprenticeships in Georgia (Union)

 

After completion of apprenticeship you’ll receive a Journeyman Certificate and will be officially recognized as an electrician in all 50 states in accordance with national standards.

Albany Electrical JATC
P.O. Box 916
Albany, GA 31702
Phone 229-436-2417
Fax 229-436-0992

Atlanta Electrical JATC
6601 Bay Circle
Norcross, GA 30071
Phone 404-523-5400
Fax 404-525-6761

More Info

Located just off Jones Mill Rd. and Peachtree Industrial Blvd in Historic Norcross, Georgia, the Electrical Training Center is 36,000+ square feet of state-of-the-art training space dedicated to excellence in the training of Electrical Industry Professionals.

Their programs of study include Inside Wireman (Electrical Apprentice), Installer Technician (Telecommunications Apprentice), Construction Wireman 1-4, Construction Electrician 5-6, and Continuing Education for Training Center graduates and other Electrical Contractor Personnel.

INSIDE WIREMAN APPRENTICESHIP: This is a 5-year apprenticeship program including a minimum of 180 hours of related instruction per year and a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. While the Outside Lineman works on the distribution network, bringing power from sources of generation to the customers, the Inside Wireman’s job is to distribute and connect the customer’s electrical equipment to that power source. The Inside Wireman installs and maintains all of the various types of electrical systems found in commercial and industrial facilities.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPRENTICESHIP: This is a 3-year apprenticeship program including a minimum of 180 hours related instruction per year and a minimum of 4,800 hours of on-the-job training for the 3 years. While the Inside Wireman is installing the conduit and power feeders on a project, the Installer Technician is working beside the Wireman, installing the network of low voltage cabling that is used for video, voice and data or other low voltage signaling.

FEES AND APPLICATION SUBMISSION

There is a $45.00 non-refundable processing fee. We accept check, money order, Visa and MasterCard. NO CASH ACCEPTED.

Applications may be made in person at the AEJATC office Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm.

IMPORTANT! No application will be processed until the $45.00 processing fee has been received. When returning applications to our office by mail, you should include payment by check or money order, DO NOT SEND CASH.

For application deadlines, postmarks are not considered. Applications are considered valid on the date the AEJATC office receives the completed application along with payment of the processing fee. The AEJATC cannot be held responsible for errors made by the postal service.

DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION

An application is only valid for the Selection Period in which it is submitted. There are two Selection Periods each year:

  1. May 16 – *October 15 for Apprenticeship starting in January
  2. October 16 – *May 15 for Apprenticeship starting in July

* When October 15 or May 15 fall on a weekend, the deadline will be extended to the following Monday

 DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

 The following is a list of the items required to make an application complete (also see cutoff dates):

  1. Birth Certificate: you must be at least 17 years of age to apply and 18 to begin the program.
  2. An authenticated high school diploma or two year associate degree or higher, or GED.
  3. DD-214 Long Form. (This requirement is for veterans only).
  4. Valid Driver’s License and dependable transportation. Applicants must be able to report to work anywhere in the jurisdiction of the committee. (see below).
  5. Proof of residence: you must show evidence of being a resident of the area under jurisdiction of this committee. This area includes the following counties in Georgia:Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Henry, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Marion, Meriwether, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Quitman, Rockdale, Schley, Spalding, Stewart, Talbot, Taylor, Towns, Troup, Union, Walton, Webster and White; and the following counties in Alabama: Barbour, Chambers, Henry, Lee, Russell.

a.     The following items may be used as proof of residence:

i.      Mortgage Statement/Warranty Deed

ii.      Last Year’s W-2 Form

iii.      Voter Registration Card

iv.      Pay check stub (including name and address)

v.      Lease Agreement

  1. Bills and other mail may not be used as proof of residence.
  2. Qualifying score on the trade specific aptitude test. (you will be scheduled for your aptitude test by the Training Center and notified of your test date)
Macon Electrical JATC
1046 Patterson Street
Macon, GA 31204
Phone 478-743-7017
Fax 478-743-4482

More Info

To apply for the Macon Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee’s apprenticeship program you must provide the following documentation:

  • Valid Driver’s License
  • Social Security Card/or equivalent documentation of legal work status
  • Birth Certificate
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Official Transcript documenting 1 year of Algebra knowledge
  • Form DD-214 (if applicable)
After you have gathered the above information, bring ALL of the required documentation to: 1046 Patterson Street, Macon, Georgia 31204.
You will be required to pay $23.00 for a urinalysis administered by Macon Occupational Medicine. After passed your drug test and payment of the $30.00 application fee, you will be scheduled to take a written aptitude exam at a later date.
The exam will assess your reading comprehension and math skills.
There will be a physical examination, administered by Macon Occupational Medicine (scheduled by the Training Director) after successful completion of the aptitude test. This fit test will include vision, hearing, balance, climbing, and lifting, to ensure the applicants ability to perform the work safely.
SELCAT
90 Newnan South Industrial Drive
Newman GA 30263
Phone 678-423-1338
Fax 678-423-1341

More Info

SELCAT offers three programs: Overhead Lineman, Substation Technician and Underground Technician.
Apprenticeship Requirements:Upon request, a pre-numbered application will be mailed.
The application packet will include the following documents which must be completed and returned:

    • Signed Fundamental Training School Agreement
    • Random Drug Test Statement

*$25.00 application fee (payable by money order or cashier’s check only, no personal checks)

The following documents are also required:

  • Valid DOT physical/medical card
  • Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Permits will not be accepted.
  • Birth Certificate
  • Social Security Card
  • High School Transcript
  • Diploma or GED. If submitting a GED, test scores must be included. High school transcripts through the last grade completed are still required.
  • DD214, if you are a Veteran. DDF2384, if you are in the Reserves.
  • Residency in SELCAT jurisdiction
  • Access to computer with internet and current email address

CSRA Electrical JATC
1248 Reynolds Street
Augusta, GA 30901
Phone 706-722-4100
Fax 706-722-9555

Once you’ve located an apprenticeship head on over to our article on how to join an IBEW apprenticeship. You should find some useful information there.

Once you choose an apprenticeship and applied, here’s what you can expect to happen:

  • Aptitude Test
  • Interview
  • Selection
Applicants will be notified of a date to take the Aptitude Test. There is typically a test fee of around $25. The Test takes approximately 2½ hours to complete and consists of Algebra, Technical Mathematics, and Reading Comprehension. Applicants will be notified in writing of their test results. An applicant who does not pass the test may apply to re-test after 6 months have elapsed. 
Applicants who pass the Aptitude Test will be scheduled for an in-person interview. Each applicant will be scored individually based upon their application, test result, and interview. The overall score will determine each applicant’s ranking in the pool of qualified candidates. 
Applicants will be selected in order of their ranking. Prior to being indentured, each applicant will be required to provide satisfactory results of a physical examination and a drug test provided by the JATC. 

IEC Electrical Apprenticeships in Georgia (Non Union)

After completion of apprenticeship you’ll receive a Journeyman Certificate and will be officially recognized as an electrician in all 50 states in accordance with national standards.

IEC Atlanta
4500 Winters Chapel Rd., Atlanta, GA  30360
770-242-9277

More Info

The Atlanta Chapter operates the apprenticeship program in accordance with the US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Standards.

The two main program requirements are:  minimum of 576 hours of classroom training and 8,000 hours (up to 4 years) of on the job training (OJT).

IEC allows direct transfers in and out of the Atlanta program to and from any program utilizing the IEC National Curriculum.

The apprenticeship program is offered onsite, as well as, online (or distance learning) for those whom need to travel for work or are not closed enough to a physical location.  The Professional Electricians’ Program (PEP) is an advanced apprenticeship program for those whom have at least 5 years of field experience, yet lack the formal education.  All of these programs receive journeyman certification.

Steps to applying for the Atlanta Chapter On-site Apprenticeship Program:

1)  Make application in person, Monday thru Thursday at 10am, 2pm or 4pm
– 4500 Winters Chapel Rd., Atlanta, GA  30360

2)  Pay a $10 application fee – cash, debit card and all major credit cards (no checks)

3)  Complete application and math exam (note: exam does not screen out applicants, but below 70% grade will require math refresher course)

4)  Be working for an IEC member, or have a funding source:  WIOA, self-pay, non-member payment

5)  Be ready to attend class and study each week:  classes begin in January and August

Apprenticeship Brochure

How To Become A Licensed Electrical Contractor Class I (Restricted) in Georgia

An electrical contractor class I license holder refers to “Statewide class I electrical contractor licenses restricted to electrical contracting involving single-phase electrical installations which do not exceed 200 amperes at the service drop or the service lateral”.

The license is provided by Georgia Board of Construction Industry.

In order to obtain the electrical contractor class I license, you will have to go through the following process:

– Before you are eligible to take the appropriate test for your license, you will have to be approved by the board.

– You must be 21 years or older in order to apply for this license.

– You must have 4 years (or more) of practical experience mainly defined by National Electrical Code (NEC) or Georgia Electrical Code. The Board of Construction Industry acknowledges secondary experience (which is mainly theoretical knowledge) and the maximum credit you can get from this source is 1 year, but this type of work or education counts 50% towards the maximum 1 year.

For example, you need to document 2 years of school attending in order to receive (50% or half of it) 1-year credit. If you document 1 year, you will receive accordingly 6 months (half of the documented 1 year) of credit.

The rest required years must be filled with primary experience, which in short is ability and installation of electrical systems. You will have to provide sufficient proof of working and experience in 6 of the fields’ a-h. The application is done online and exams conducted by AMP.

A score of 70% or higher is required to pass, with slight adjustments based on question difficulty.

After you successfully take this exam, you will be mailed your license in approximately 6 weeks from passing. When you receive your license, you will be subject to Continuing Education (CE). The required hours vary from 0 hours per year to 4 hours per year, depending on the time you will receive your license. The license must be renewed every two years on June 30.

How To Become A Licensed Electrical Contractor Class II (Unrestricted) In Georgia

The license is provided by Georgia Board of Construction Industry.

In order to obtain the electrical contractor class II license, you must go through the following process:

  • Before you are eligible to take the appropriate test for your license, you will have to be approved by the board.
  • You must be 21 years or older in order to apply for this license.
  • You must have 4 years (or more) of practical experience mainly defined by National Electrical Code (NEC) or Georgia Electrical Code. The Board of Construction Industry acknowledges secondary experience (which is mainly theoretical knowledge) and the maximum credit you can get from this source is 1 year, but this type of work or education counts 50% towards the maximum 1 year.

For example, you need to document 2 years of school attending in order to receive (50% or half of it) 1-year credit. If you document 1 year, you will receive accordingly 6 months (half of the documented 1 year) of credit.

The rest required years must be filled with primary experience, which in short is ability and installation of electrical systems. You will also have to prove experience of installations in excess of single phase, 200 amperes systems.

  • You must also provide sufficient proof of working and being experienced in all of the fields’ a-h.

The application can be done online. The exam is provided by AMP. You will have to score 70% or more in order to pass. However, the scoring process has a small variation, depending on the difficulty of each question. After you successfully take this exam, you will be mailed your license in approximately 6 weeks from passing. When you receive your license, you will be subject to Continuing Education (CE). The required hours vary from 0 hours per year to 4 hours per year, depending on the time you will receive your license. After your first renewal, you will have to obtain 4 hours of Continuing Education per year. You will have to renew your license each June 30 of even years.

Resources:

http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/21

http://sos.ga.gov/acrobat/PLB/44%20Electrical%20Application.pdf

http://sos.ga.gov/

http://www.goamp.com/

http://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/plbforms.asp?board=44

About Thomas Hawkins

I run Electrician Apprentice Headquarters, a one-stop-shop for learning how to become a licensed electrician in the USA. I'm a licensed Master Electrician with over 20 years experience working in the Mining & Construction industries. Why do I do it? Well, because even plumbers need heroes.

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