How do you become an electrician in Colorado?

There are a few different electrical licenses that you can obtain after holding an apprentice license. If you are wondering how to register as an electrical apprentice in Colorado, see our post titled "How do I register as an electrical apprentice in Colorado?"

Residential Wireman (RW):

The State of Colorado requires 4,000 hours of residential on-the-job training and a passing score on the State Residential Wireman's Exam before you can work on residential projects unsupervised. No instruction hours are required for this license, but attending classes often helps with passing the RW Exam.

Journeyworker (JW):

To work independently on commercial and residential jobsites and supervise apprentices, 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (including at least 4,000 hours of commercial/industrial work), 288 hours of electrical instruction, and a passing score on the State Journeyworker Exam are required.

Don't stop collecting Affidavits of Experience from companies you've worked with once you are a Journeyworker!

Master:

A Master Electrician's License is required to pull any permits for new projects, along with an Electrical Contractor License. Most electrical business owners (Electrical Contractors) are Master Electricians. To become a Master Electrician you must have 10,000 hours of total documented experience in the electrical field, have held a JW license for at least one year, and have experience with planning, layout, and supervision. In addition there is a Master Electrician Exam that you must pass.

Each license requires an electrical Affidavit of Experience for the number and type of hours specified. Affidavits of Experience come from your employer when requested, or if you leave the company, and must be signed by the Master Electrician of the company. You must be registered with the State of Colorado for the duration of employment for the Affidavit of Experience to be accepted.