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In Florida, the electrical trade experiences a strong demand, and now it’s a good time to enter a field where the possibility of a career is real.
Those who choose this path start as apprentices and journeymen and master certificates are handled at the local level.
Only the electrical contractor certificates are issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board.
Article Table of Contents
Apprenticeship
Like in most states, a future licensed electrician from Florida will spend 8,000 hours accumulating hands-on experience as an apprentice.
At this stage, these individuals also need to accumulate 144 hours of classroom-based education per year.
These hour requirements might be different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
There are 2 main ways of completing this requirement:
- Through a technical college
- Through a direct apprenticeship through a union or non-union organization
Miami-Dade County
In Miami-Dade County, the apprenticeship period lasts for only 3 years of documented experience.
Candidates in this area can substitute half of the time with formal education in the field that will earn them an Associate’s degree.
It will be a good idea for those living in this county, to check with the Miami-Dade Construction Trades Qualifying Board how much apprenticeship time can be substituted by formal education.
Technical School Programs
Technical schools award electrical technician career diplomas, Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Technology degrees, or even an electrical trade certificate.
Most schools also offer internships that can help with accumulating the hours required by the journeyman license.
Internships can turn into full-time employment after graduation.
At other schools, students might have to search for apprenticeships on their own.
There are many employers who will prefer those who earned a degree.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Atlantic Technical College | 4700 Coconut Creek Parkway, Coconut Creek, FL 33063 |
| CHOICE High School and Technical Center | 1976 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 |
| D G Erwin Technical Center | 2010 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610 |
| Flagler Technical Institute | 3535 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast, FL 32137 |
| Florida Panhandle Technical College | 757 Hoyt Street, Chipley, FL 32428 |
| Florida State College | 501 W State St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 |
| Fort Myers Institute of Technology | 3800 Michigan Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916 |
| Fred D. Learey Technical Center | 7010 North Manhattan Ave, Tampa, FL 33614 |
| Futura Career Institute | 4512 West 12th Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33012 |
| George Stone Technical Center | 2400 Longleaf Dr, Pensacola, FL 32526 |
| Gulf Coast State College | 5230 West U.S. Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401 |
| Hillsborough Community College | 39 Columbia Drive, Tampa, FL 33606 |
| Indian River State College | 3209 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34981 |
| Lake-Sumter State College | 9501 US Hwy 441, Leesburg, FL 34788 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center | 750 NW 20 Street, Miami, FL 33127 |
| Lively Technical Center | 500 N Appleyard Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32304 |
| Manatee Technical Institute | 6305 State Rd 70 East, Bradenton, FL 34203 |
| Marchman Technical Education Center | 7825 Campus Dr., New Port Richey, FL 34653 |
| Miami Dade College | 300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33132 |
| Miami Lakes Educational Center | 5780 NW 158th St, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 |
| Mid Florida Tech | 2900 West Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, FL 32809 |
| Palm Beach State College | 4200 Congress Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33461 |
| Pensacola State College | 1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504 |
| Pinellas Technical College | 901 34th St S, Saint Petersburg, FL 33711 |
| Polk State College | 999 Avenue H NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881 |
| Radford M Locklin Technical Center | 5330 Berryhill Rd, Milton, FL 32570 |
| Ridge Career Center | 7700 State Rd 544, Winter Haven, FL 33881 |
| Robert Morgan Educational Center | 18180 SW 122nd Ave, Miami, FL 33177 |
| Santa Fe College | 3000 Northwest 83rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606 |
| Seminole State College of Florida | 100 Weldon Blvd, Sanford, FL 32773 |
| Sheridan Technical College | 5400 Sheridan St, Hollywood, FL 33021 |
| South Florida State College | 600 W College Dr, Avon Park, FL 33825 |
| Tallahassee Community College | 444 Appleyard Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32304 |
| Technical Education Center | 501 Simpson Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34744 |
| Tom P Haney Technical Center | 3016 Hwy 77, Panama City, FL 32405 |
| Traviss Career Center | 3225 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803 |
| Westside Tech | 955 E Story Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787 |
| Withlacoochee Technical College | 1201 W Main St, Inverness, FL 34450 |
Apprenticeship Programs
While apprenticeship programs are available through both unions and non-unions, the sponsors have to make sure the curriculum they offer will end in complete competency in the trade.
The Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees offer union apprenticeship programs, though they require membership too.
To be admitted in a JATC program, one has to:
- Be 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have a photo ID
- Be able to physically perform the requirements of the trade
- Be able to transport yourself to the classroom and job site
- Pass a general aptitude test
- Pass an oral interview process
Those who don’t want to become union members have the option to seek a training program through a non-union organization.
These training programs also offer the needed classroom education needed to become a journeyman.
Becoming a Journeyman
As mentioned, each jurisdiction has its own regulations related to issuing a license for journeymen.
We’ll present the largest 3 jurisdictions in Florida, so if you live elsewhere you’ll have to check with your local authorities.
City of Jacksonville
In the City of Jacksonville, journeymen get licensed by the Construction Trades Qualifying Board.
These professionals can work unsupervised as an electrician while being employed by an electrical contractor.
In this city, to earn the journeyman license, a person has to:
- Complete their apprenticeship
- Score at least 75% on the exam
This exam is organized 4 times every year, and the Board has more information related to it.
Journeymen’s electrical certificates need to be renewed every 2 years.
Miami-Dade County
In Miami-Dade County, journeymen earn Certificates of Competency from the Construction Trades Qualifying Board.
To earn it, individuals need to meet the following requirements:
- 3 years of experience
- Pass the journeyman exam
The exam is 3 hours long, has 75 questions, and covers the following subjects:
- General Electrical Theory & Principles
- Plan Reading
- Wiring & Protection
- Wiring Methods & Materials
- Motors & Controls
- Equipment for General Use
- Special Occupancies
- Special Equipment
- Special Conditions
- Communication Systems
The certificate of competency must be renewed every 2 years.
Individuals must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years per renewal period.
Orange County
The Orange County Government issues electrician licenses in Orange County and the website of the Government has more information on this.
To earn the license, candidates must:
- Complete the apprenticeship program
- Pass the journeyman electrical exam
Journeymen electricians are expected to perform electrical construction work while supervised by a master electrician.
The Orange County Government has all the information related to the exam, license, and renewal.
Master Electrician Certificate in Your Area
Master electricians can get permits to perform work on residential properties.
They need a special certificate or license and these are issued at the local level.
City of Jacksonville
The Construction Trades Qualifying Board issues certificates for master electricians in Jacksonville.
These professionals can work unsupervised and be self-employed with proper credentials.
The certificate is issued when these 2 conditions are met:
- 4 years as an electrical journeyman
- Scoring over 75% the master electrician exam
The exam is organized 4 times a year and the license must be renewed every 2 years.
Miami-Dade County
In Miami-Dade, individuals obtain Certificates of Competency from the Construction Trades Qualifying Board at the master electrician level.
This Certificate of Competency is issued when the following requirements are met:
- 2 years of experience as a journeyman
- Passing the master electrician exam
The exam lasts for 3 hours and has 75 questions related to:
- Wiring Methods & Materials
- Wiring & Protection
- General Electrical Knowledge
- Communication Systems
- Equipment for General Use
- Motors & Controls
- Plan Reading
- Special Conditions
- Special Equipment
- Special Occupancies
This certificate must be renewed every 2 years after completing 8 hours of continuing education per year.
The Board has more information related to where these hours can be completed, and other useful details.
Orange County
The Orange County Government also issues master electrician licenses, and its website has more information on this subject including how to renew the license.
A master electrician is someone capable of supervising electrical construction work.
To become one in this county, individuals need:
- 2 years of experience as a journeyman electrician
- Pass the master electrical exam.
Salary Information
Journeymen and master electricians will earn a different salary, based on a number of factors.
Below you can see the average salary level across Florida.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $45,828 |
| Miami | $47,270 |
| Tampa | $46,265 |
| Orlando | $46,192 |
| St. Petersburg | $46,226 |
| Hialeah | $46,906 |
| Tallahassee | $44,041 |
| Port St. Lucie | $45,769 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $47,154 |
| Cape Coral | $45,152 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 1,660 | $50,610 | $24.33 | $62,520 | $36,830 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 560 | $54,130 | $26.03 | $72,810 | $37,630 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 1,130 | $47,210 | $22.7 | $58,580 | $35,740 |
| Gainesville, FL | 490 | $50,010 | $24.04 | $61,390 | $37,060 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 170 | $48,040 | $23.1 | $59,020 | $35,900 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 3,700 | $52,930 | $25.45 | $64,370 | $37,420 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 1,090 | $49,680 | $23.88 | $61,520 | $36,710 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 12,400 | $55,030 | $26.46 | $71,360 | $38,990 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 870 | $53,970 | $25.95 | $65,630 | $38,540 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 1,700 | $50,030 | $24.05 | $60,660 | $37,000 |
| Ocala, FL | 550 | $47,780 | $22.97 | $58,410 | $35,490 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 6,460 | $52,160 | $25.08 | $64,620 | $37,910 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1,220 | $53,590 | $25.77 | $74,730 | $37,710 |
| Panama City, FL | 480 | $49,420 | $23.76 | $60,310 | $37,220 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 1,050 | $48,280 | $23.21 | $62,980 | $35,630 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 890 | $51,230 | $24.63 | $62,290 | $37,330 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 260 | $50,970 | $24.51 | $63,410 | $36,790 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 210 | $51,740 | $24.87 | $59,920 | $37,460 |
| Sebring, FL | 80 | $46,990 | $22.59 | $57,110 | $35,360 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 680 | $47,000 | $22.6 | $58,700 | $34,530 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 7,630 | $51,580 | $24.8 | $62,700 | $37,830 |
| The Villages, FL | 200 | $47,980 | $23.07 | $62,380 | $32,510 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Independent Electrical Contractor
In Florida, electrical contractors can:
- Hire journeymen and master electricians
- Take on bigger projects
- Offer services to the public
These licenses are issued in all of Florida, through the state’s Electrical Contractor’s Licensing Board (ECLB).
There are 2 kinds of contractor licenses:
- Registered contractor – allowed to work in certain jurisdictions
- Certified contractor – allowed to work anywhere in the state
Registered Contractor
To obtain this license, candidates must apply for a competency card for their county.
Each county has different requirements for this license, so the local licensing body can offer more information.
Certified Contractor
To obtain this license, individuals need the following:
- 4 years of experience in the field
- Pass the certified contractor exam
- General liability
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- Property damage insurance within 30 days of receiving your license
The insurances needed by an electrical contractor, are:
- $300,000 per occurrence
- $500,000 property damage insurance
- $800,000 per combined single unit
To take the exam, those interested need to fill out an application first, with 30 days before the deadline, for the processing time.
The Board’s website has information related to the study materials for this exam.
This license is renewed as follows:
- Every 2 years
- Only after completing 14 hours of continuing education classes
Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician
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Electrician Schools by State