by 
West Virginia offers different types of electrician licenses, and the industry keeps on growing.
If you want to know the steps required to become one, read on in this article.
Article Table of Contents
Become an Apprentice
To become an apprentice, you need to submit an application and pay a $10 fee.
You also need to be 18 years old.
The exam totals 20 questions and you will need to get an 80% score.
After getting your license, you can choose your training method.
Trade Schools
You can enroll in a vocational college where you will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Systems Technology.
Most trade schools provide job options after you finish your program.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Academy of Careers and Technology | 390 Stanaford Rd, Beckley, WV 25801 |
| Carver Career Center | 4799 Midland Dr, Charleston, WV 25306 |
| Fayette Institute of Technology | 300 West Oyler Avenue, Oak Hill, WV 25901 |
| James Rumsey Technical Institute | 3274 Hedgesville Road, Martinsburg, WV 25403 |
| Mercer County Technical Education Center | 1397 Stafford Dr, Princeton, WV 24740 |
| Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center | 144 Vocational Road, Stollings, WV 25646 |
| West Virginia Community and Technical College | 1201 Locust Ave, Fairmont, WV 26554 |
| West Virginia Community and Technical College | 1704 Market St., Wheeling, WV 26003 |
| West Virginia Higher Education | Rte 5 Box 2, Buckhannon, WV 26201 |
| West Virginia Higher Education | 300 Roosevelt Boulevard, Eleanor, WV 25070 |
| West Virginia University | 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26104 |
Union and Non-Union Apprenticeships
You can become an apprentice through the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC).
This organization provides non-union apprenticeship programs.
For a union program, you have to register with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and find a JATC in your area.
The requirements to join are:
- Be 18 years old
- High school diploma
- 1 year of algebra
- Driver’s license
- Birth certificate copy
- $20 application fee
- Take an aptitude test
Become a Journeyman
To apply for a journeyman license, you need to meet one of the next criteria:
- A 1,080-hour training program in an approved school
- An 8,000-hour apprenticeship program that includes 576-900 hours of class
- 8,000 hours over 4 years of job experience
To apply for a license, you first need to pass an exam.
The exam criteria include:
- Application form
- Meet the training criteria
- Certificate of completion from your school
- $25 exam fee
- $50 license fee
The exam features 42 questions, 4 calculations, and requires an 80% score to pass.
Become a Master Electrician
After working as a journeyman, you can also get a master electrician license.
To apply, you need:
- An application form
- Have the required experience
- $25 exam fee
- $50 license fee
- Take the master electrician test
To be able to apply, you should have an experience of 10,000 hours working as an electrician.
The master electrician exam has 50 questions, 10 calculations, and requires an 80% passing score.
You can get a license by reciprocity if you have a license in Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky.
Become an Electrical Contractor
To run your own business, you will need an electrical contractor license managed by the West Virginia Department of Labor, Contractor Licensing Board.
The requirements are:
- A $90 fee
- Worker’s compensation insurance
- Proof of unemployment coverage
- The Wage Bond Status Affidavit and a wage bond if it applies
- Pass the code exam and the Law and Business exam
You will only need to post a wage bond if you haven’t worked for 5 years before applying for the license.
However, this doesn’t apply for electricians who only work in residences.
The bond totals a month of the gross payment plus 15%.
The exam has 75 questions, lasts for 3 hours and requires a 70% passing score.
If you have an independent contractor license in North Carolina and Ohio, you do not need to take the exam.
Salary
Your experience will dictate how much you’ll earn as an electrician in West Virginia.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $44,308 |
| Huntington | $42,960 |
| Morgantown | $47,620 |
| Parkersburg | $43,194 |
| Wheeling | $47,620 |
| Weirton | $47,449 |
| Fairmont | $47,620 |
| Martinsburg | $53,588 |
| Beckley | $43,919 |
| Clarksburg | $42,805 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 300 | $68,170 | $32.77 | $84,880 | $35,400 |
| Charleston, WV | 430 | $67,440 | $32.42 | $88,140 | $37,850 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 800 | $60,520 | $29.09 | $82,120 | $36,050 |
| Morgantown, WV | 250 | $60,740 | $29.2 | $96,830 | $36,400 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 150 | $59,450 | $28.58 | $79,320 | $35,560 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 180 | $62,510 | $30.05 | $87,660 | $36,090 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 310 | $67,870 | $32.63 | $89,500 | $37,540 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
License Renewal
The apprentice license needs to be renewed every year and it requires a $50 renewal fee.
You will have to renew your journeyman license or master electrician certification every year and pay a $50 fee.
Your electrical contractor license has to be renewed each year for a $90 fee.
Read the full guide: How to Become an Electrician
Electrician Schools by City
Electrician Schools by State