Electrician Training in North Dakota: Start Your Professional Journey

Are you looking for electrician training in North Dakota? Do you want to live and retire a wealthy person? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then you are in the right place.

Electricians in North Dakota are among the best employed in the region. Depending on their level of training and education, highly skilled electricians take nothing less than $90,000 a year. The best time to become an electrician is now because of the soaring increase in demand. By 2028, the country will require at least 78,000 new electricians or the shortage will increase wages.

Let us compare this with the annual salary of carpenters and plumbers in North Dakota. The average pay of a carpenter is $33,000 - $57,000; while the average pay of a plumber is $40,000 - $56,000. The average pay of other professions is;

• HVAC: $50,000
• Occupants in ND: $44,102
• Construction Laborers: $38,000

This means as an electrician, you get the good things in life and most importantly you retire a comfortable person.

There are four steps that you will have to follow to become an independent electrician. However, the moment you graduate into a journeyman you will be allowed to work on minor projects that will support you financially. As a newly registered journeyman expect to earn a salary of $36.6 per hour.

Below are the four steps required to become a certified electrician along with their salary earnings.

1. Gaining the Experience Required to Become a Journeyman

2. Sitting for Journeyman Exam

3. Gaining the Experience Required to Have a Master Electrician License

4. Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

5. Electrician Salaries In North Dakota

1. Gaining the Experience Required to Become a Journeyman

State regulations in North Dakota dictate that aspiring electricians must accrue at least 8,000 hours of on the job training. The training hours must be gained within three years. Alternatively, if you enrol in an electrical school, then you will be required to complete a two-year program and at the same time have a job experience of 6,000 hours.

Note: The job experience must be accrued within three years.

The North Dakota State Electrical Board {NDSEB}

Before we proceed into the finer details of this first step, it is important to know about the North Dakota Electrical Board. It is this board that is responsible for all electrical work in North Dakota. It is also responsible for licensing electricians. It offers three types of licenses and these are;

• A Journeyman license
• Master electrician License
• Class B electrician License 

The board is also responsible for the examination of applicants. Keep in mind that an examination can be practical or technical. 

Becoming a Journeyman Electrician

If you have a construction experience then your 8,000-hour requirement may be reduced by the board. There are numerous ways to gain experience and these are;

• Joining a Unionized apprenticeship program
• Joining a Non-Unionized Program
• Joining a technical school

Some of the benefits associated with joining an apprenticeship program are;

• It’s a learn and earn concept
• Job security
• You gain higher quality skills
• Your credentials are recognized

Electrician Training In North Dakota Through a Unionized Apprenticeship Program

This is a program where local electrical students are placed in state-licensed electrical companies and they are supervised by a master electrician. In some cases, they can also be supervised by a Journeyman. Unionized apprenticeship is made possible because of collaboration between the National Electrical Contractor Association {NECA} and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers {IBEW}. Through their cooperation, they formed the National Training Alliance {NTA}.

Local unions in the region have come together to create the Dakotas Area Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Fund {JATC}. The training fund operates in Grand Forks, Williston, Minot and Bismarck.

Electrician Training In North Dakota Through A Non-Union Apprenticeship Program

A Non-union apprentice program in North Dakota is managed by the Independent Electrical Contractors of Dakotas. The program is almost similar to a unionized program. The major difference is that the program works with non-unionized contractors.

Electrical Training In North Dakota Through a Technical College

If you decide to take this path then you will have to study for at least two years to be awarded an associate’s degree. A technical college is the best option if you are just learning about a new field as it will introduce you to the basics. 

Another advantage of going through a technical college is that you get to reduce the number of experience hours required from 8,000 hours to 6,000 hours. In college, expect to study the following programs;

• Telecom Cabling
• Blueprint reading
• Electrical theory
• Basic math 
• Algebra with Trigonometry
• Electrical code
• Basic communication
• Load calculations
• Power distribution
• Semi-conductors
• Basic alarm technology
• CCTV systems
• Fire Access
• Generator theory
• Motor theory
• Programmable Controllers
• Logic circuits

2. Sitting for a Journeyman Electrician Exam

This is one of the most important exams you will ever sit. This is because it is the first step to becoming an independent contractor. One main advantage of passing this exam apart from the pay is that you will work without any supervision. 

Note: You can only sit for a journeyman exam if you are a registered apprentice.

Once you have registered with the relevant body, you need to apply for the exam by sending an apprenticeship completion certificate together with an employment record. All these are to be attached to your application. If the electrical Board of North Dakota agrees to your request, then you will receive an invitation.

As it is in most states in America, you are required to have a pass mark of 70% to get the coveted title of a journeyman. If you plan on renewing your license, you must continue with your electrician training in North Dakota by studying the most recent national electrical codes. 

3. Gaining the Experience Required to Have a Master Electrician License 

Once you become a Journeyman, your ultimate goal should be to become an Independent electrician. However, you still have one more floor to climb and that is becoming a non-contracting electrician. You can only have this license if you are employed by a contracting master electrician and have worked as a journeyman for at least 12 months.

If you are ready to become a non-contracting electrician, then attach an employment verification record to this application and send it to the electrical board. Once approved, you will be sent details of the exam. The pass mark is 70%.

Note: A journeyman license must be renewed every 31^st of March while a non-contracting License must be renewed by 30^th April.

If you plan to renew your license you must continue with your electrical training in North Dakota for at least 8 hours of classroom time. Four hours of the eight hours required must be dedicated to learning new electrical codes or the 2014 National Electrical Code.

Master Electrician License

North Dakota has a master electrician license that makes it possible for you to work in an association or in a company as an electrician. The downside about this license is that you can only work in buildings owned by the company that has hired you. Before you apply for this license be aware that you will require to have General liability insurance for at least $500,000.

4. Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor 

The only way to be certified as an Independent Electrical Contractor is to earn a Contracting Master Electrician License. Before applying for this, you must have a general liability insurance of $500,000. Other qualifications are;

• To have worked in North Dakota for at least 1 year  as a Journeyman
• Support the undertaking fund

You then need to apply for a license and if accepted, the board will notify you on when to take your exam. To get a license, make sure you get a pass mark of at least 70%. To renew your contracting master electrician License, you must continue with your electrician training in North Dakota by taking a 4-hour class on the most recent National Electric Code or by studying the 2014 National Electric Code. 

5. Electrician Salaries in North Dakota

According to the US Bureau of Statistics, North Dakota has the most number of electricians in the country. For example, Far East North Dakota is ranked second largest number of trained electricians in the country.

Average Salaries for Different North Dakota Regions

• Bismarck ND: $53,510
• Far East North Dakota: $57,840
• Fargo ND-Mn: $55,740
• Far West North Dakota: $63,020
• Grand Forks ND-MN: $64,450
• East Central: $57,840

Salaries of Power Line Installers per Area

• Bismarck: $72,000 - $94,470
• Grand Forks: $66,000 - $95,899
• Fargo: $66,700 - $95,890

Rural Areas

• Far West North Dakota: $57,320 - $77,860
• Far East North Dakota: $82,000 - $98,440
• West Central North Dakota: $61,900 - $89,000
• East Central North Dakota: $71,300 - $80,860

Average Electrician Salaries

• Power-Line Installers and Repairers: $64,770
• Transportation Equipment Electricians: $52,510
• Electrical Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment: $64,850
• Fire Alarm Installers: $47,000

Electrical training in North Dakota will take some time. To start your journey as an independent contractor, fill the form below and we will connect you with the best electrician training schools in your area. We will also advise you on the best electrical niche based on your desires and long term ambitions.