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If you plan on becoming an electrician in Iowa, you need to meet some requirements.
Below we have brought you the most important info on how to start your new career.
Article Table of Contents
Become an Apprentice
To get a license, you need to attend an apprenticeship program that is approved by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the United States Department of Labor.
Technical Colleges
If you pursue an associate’s degree, you may be able to find an entry-level job with help from your school.
The program requires 8,000 hours of experience and 576 hours of theory-based class.
You can also attend a trade school program approved by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board.
In addition, you can get a Special Electrician endorsement for specific electrical work.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College | 2006 Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA 50023 |
| Marshalltown Community College | 3700 S Center St, Marshalltown, IA 50158 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | 1625 Hwy 150, Calmar, IA 52132 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | 603 W Park St, Sheldon, IA 51201 |
| Southwestern Community College | 1501 W. Townline Street, Creston, IA 50801 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | 4647 Stone Ave, Sioux City, IA 51102 |
Apprenticeship Programs
These are provided by the Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees in Iowa.
To get into such a program, you must join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
If you choose a non-union program, you will enroll in a program that is separate from the union ones.
Such programs also offer training courses and employment options through electrical companies in your area.
Apprentice Certification
This license is needed after completing your program, and once you get employed.
For it, you need to:
- Pay a $20 fee
- Fill out the application
- Personal information (including SSN)
- Document of indenture (form ETA 671)
- Proof of enrollment in the apprentice program
- Any currently active electrical licenses (if applicable)
- The number of months employed as an apprentice
- Contact information of people that can vouch for your work experience, including from your current employer
The ETA 671 can be replaced with the approval from an apprenticeship program.
Become a Journeyman
You can either get a Class A or Class B journeyman license.
Class A Journeyman license
Requirements:
- Passing the exam
- Complete the apprenticeship program
To take the exam, you need to fill in the PSI Testing Sponsorship Form.
This test lasts for 3 hours, includes 80 questions, costs $60 and requires a 75% score.
After passing the exam, you can apply for your journeyman license for a $75 fee.
Class B License
This license was introduced in 2008, doesn’t require passing any exams, but is restricted to specific types of electrical work.
It requires 16,000 hours of experience as a journeyman, with some of them earned before 1998.
Most current candidates don’t qualify for this license.
Get a Master Electrician License
To become a master electrician, you need to get a Class A or Class B license.
Class B license is similar to the one for journeymen electricians, except it doesn’t apply to those who started working after 2008.
Class A license requires:
- Fill in an application
- A year of experience as a journeyman
- A 75% exam test
The exam for master electricians lasts for 4 hours, costs $60, and includes 100 open book questions.
To get your license, you need to send in your test results and a $375 fee.
Become an independent contractor
To meet the criteria, you need to:
- Have a Class A or Class B master electrician certification
- Become a member of the labor services division of Iowa workforce development
- Liability insurance of $1 million
You will also need to submit an application along and a $375 fee.
Salary Information
Your salary as an electrician in Iowa will depend on which license you currently have.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Des Moines | $46,974 |
| Cedar Rapids | $46,071 |
| Davenport | $45,862 |
| Sioux City | $40,400 |
| Iowa City | $45,692 |
| Waterloo | $43,896 |
| Ames | $46,537 |
| West Des Moines | $46,974 |
| Council Bluffs | $45,908 |
| Ankeny | $46,974 |
Regional Salary in Iowa
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | 180 | $60,460 | $29.07 | $82,220 | $37,600 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 750 | $62,650 | $30.12 | $86,330 | $39,730 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 1,190 | $68,390 | $32.88 | $92,770 | $41,790 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 2,000 | $66,280 | $31.87 | $90,270 | $39,380 |
| Dubuque, IA | 190 | $64,590 | $31.06 | $87,750 | $44,150 |
| Iowa City, IA | 250 | $62,410 | $30.01 | $82,410 | $37,730 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 270 | $64,430 | $30.98 | $83,200 | $38,670 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 350 | $64,760 | $31.13 | $81,790 | $38,790 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Maintaining the License
The Class A journeyman license and the master electrician license have to be renewed every 3 years, and they require 18 extra education credits.
The independent contractor license also needed to be renewed once at 3 years.
Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician
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