The length of electrician school varies depending on the type of program and career goals:
- Entry-Level Electrician Training: Typically around 700 hours or about 7 months of full-time study. This covers fundamental electrical skills and prepares students for entry-level jobs or apprenticeships. For example, RSI offers a 7-month program focused solely on electrician skills without unrelated electives
- Certificate or Diploma Programs: Usually take 6 months to 1 year, providing basic electrical knowledge suitable for starting work as an electrician’s assistant or entry-level electrician
- Associate Degree Programs: These take about 1.5 to 2 years and provide a more comprehensive education including electrical theory and general education courses. They may open doors to higher-paying or specialized positions
- Apprenticeship Programs: The most critical step to becoming a fully licensed electrician, apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 4 to 5 years. Apprentices work under supervision while gaining practical experience and completing about 8,000 hours of training
In summary, you can start working in the field after as little as 7 months of trade school, but becoming a licensed journeyman electrician usually requires completing a 4-5 year apprenticeship following initial schooling. The total time to become a master electrician can extend to 6 or more years depending on state requirements and experience
