Umair Gaines
Working with electricity is a dangerous job, and in Michigan, it is a legal requirement to be licensed to perform electrical work. The process of becoming a licensed electrician in Michigan takes time and involves several steps. First, you must complete an apprenticeship, which will last three to four years and involve specialized training. After this, you can take the licensing examination, which will grant you a journeyman license and make you a certified electrician in the state of Michigan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| License Issuing Authority | Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Department |
| Prerequisites | 4 years of experience under a Journeyman or master electrician, 8000 hours of electrical trade work experience, 576 hours of classroom training, high school degree or GED, 20 years of age |
| Examination Fee | $100 |
| Journeyman License Fee | $40 |
| Journeyman License Renewal Fee | $40 per year |
| Master Electrician License Prerequisites | 12,000 hours of experience, 6 years of experience, journeyman's license for at least 2 years |
| Specialty Areas | Fire alarm specialty technician, sign specialist |
| License Validity | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Apprenticeship and experience requirements
To become a licensed electrical company in Michigan, you must first obtain a Michigan electrician license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The LARA grants two types of general electrical licenses: journeyman and master electrician. They also grant licenses in two specialty electrical areas: fire alarm specialty technician and sign specialist.
To obtain a journeyman electrician license, you must be at least 20 years old and have 8,000 hours of electrical wiring experience obtained over a period of not less than four years under the direct supervision of a journey or master electrician licensed in Michigan. You must also pass the journeyman electrician examination.
To obtain a master electrician license, you must be at least 22 years old and have 12,000 hours of electrical wiring experience obtained over a period of not less than six years under the supervision of a master electrician. You must also have held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years and pass the master electrician license examination.
Before you can apply for a license, you must first complete an apprenticeship program. These programs are offered by various local contractors, community colleges, and utility companies, and they last for three to four years. During your apprenticeship, you will be required to take 576 hours of classwork and gain hands-on experience through electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician.
To qualify for an apprenticeship program, you must be a Michigan resident, be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, have reliable transportation, and pass a drug test and criminal background check. Vocational high school programs are exempt from this rule, and students can begin their studies at 16 years old.
Once you have completed your apprenticeship and gained the required experience, you can then apply for a license and take the licensing examination. The examination will cover circuits, conductors, grounding, lighting, and safety, and you must pass it to become a certified electrician in the state of Michigan.
It is important to note that the cities of Detroit and Grand Rapids have separate licensing systems, so if you are a resident of one of these cities, you must apply through the appropriate city offices. Additionally, Michigan has no reciprocity agreements with other states for electricians, so if you hold a license from another state or country, you may need to take the licensure exam and meet comparable experience and training requirements.
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Examination process
To become a licensed electrical company in Michigan, you must obtain a Michigan electrician license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The process of becoming an electrician takes time, but you get paid while you learn and gain experience.
The examination process for obtaining a Michigan electrician license involves the following steps:
- Accumulate four years' worth of experience: To be eligible for the licensing examination, you must first gain practical experience. This can be done through an apprenticeship or by working under the supervision of a Journeyman or Master Electrician. The state requires 8,000 hours of electrical trade work experience, along with 576 hours of classroom training.
- Meet the minimum age requirement: To apply for the license exam, you must be at least 20 years old.
- Complete an apprenticeship: Before applying for the exam, you must complete an apprenticeship program. These programs offer both theoretical and practical training. In Michigan, you can find apprenticeship opportunities through the Michigan Workforce Development Agency or the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee.
- Submit the application: The next step is to submit your application for the journeyman or master electrician examination. The application must include documentation of your experience and a copy of your current license, if applicable. There is also an examination fee of $100.
- Take the examination: The journeyman exam tests entry-level knowledge about the electrical industry, while the master's exam covers additional topics such as electrical installation and planning. The journeyman exam consists of 80 questions and is 2.5 hours long, while the master's exam is 3 hours long and consists of 75 questions.
- Receive your license: Upon passing the examination, you will be awarded your journeyman license. This license comes with an initial cost of $40 and must be renewed annually for the same amount.
- Continue your education: To further specialize in the field, additional schooling and testing may be required.
It is important to note that the cities of Detroit and Grand Rapids have separate licensing agencies and requirements. If you are a resident of these cities, you must apply through the appropriate local offices.
Additionally, if you already hold a license from another state or country, you may be able to obtain a Michigan license by demonstrating comparable experience and training. The need for a licensure exam may be waived depending on your previous experience and the strength of your application.
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Licensing bodies
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Electrical Division is the main licensing body for electricians in Michigan. LARA grants two types of general electrical licenses: journeyman and master electrician. They also grant licenses in two specialty electrical areas: fire alarm specialty technician and sign specialist. In addition, the department offers the electrical contractor license, which allows a master electrician to work as an independent contractor.
The cities of Grand Rapids and Detroit have their own local licensing agencies for apprenticeship registration and issuing electrical licenses within those municipalities. If you are a resident of one of these two cities, the licensing levels are the same as the rest of the state, but you must apply through the appropriate city offices.
The Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) is another licensing body in Michigan. The BCC offers electrical examination, licensure, and registration applications for persons eligible to be licensed or registered by the state of Michigan. The BCC has partnered with CE Broker, which offers a free service for tracking continuing education and listing all approved courses and providers.
The Michigan Workforce Development Agency and the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee also maintain a list of available apprenticeships.
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License types
To become a licensed electrical company in Michigan, you must obtain a Michigan electrician license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The LARA grants two different types of general electrical licenses: journeyman and master electrician. They also grant licenses in two specialty electrical areas: fire alarm specialty technician and sign specialist. Here is a detailed breakdown of the license types:
Journeyman License
To obtain a journeyman license, you must first complete an apprenticeship program. This typically takes three to four years and involves specialized training and hands-on experience under the supervision of a master electrician or journeyman electrician. During your apprenticeship, you will be required to take classroom training and gain practical experience in electrical work. The state of Michigan requires 8,000 hours of electrical trade work experience, along with 576 hours of classroom training. After completing your apprenticeship, you can apply for the journeyman licensing examination. You must be at least 20 years old to be eligible for the exam. The journeyman exam will test your entry-level knowledge about the electrical industry, including circuits, conductors, grounding, lighting, and safety. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your journeyman license, which needs to be renewed annually for a fee of $40.
Master Electrician License
To obtain a master electrician license, you must meet certain requirements and pass the master electrician license examination. To be eligible for the exam, you must be at least 20 years old and have held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years. Additionally, you need to have 12,000 hours of electrical wiring experience obtained over a period of not less than six years under the supervision of a master electrician. The master electrician examination will test your advanced knowledge in electrical installation and planning, and other related areas.
Specialty Licenses
In addition to the general electrical licenses, Michigan also offers specialty licenses in two specific areas:
- Fire Alarm Specialty Technician: This license is for individuals specializing in fire alarm system wiring and equipment. To obtain this license, you must pass the Fire Alarm Specialty Technician examination and meet the experience requirements.
- Sign Specialist: This license is for individuals specializing in the installation, maintenance, and repair of electric signs and related wiring. The Sign Specialist examination is required for this license, along with the necessary experience in the field.
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License renewal
To renew your electrical license in Michigan, you must do so by March 1 of each year, as your license expires on December 31. You can use the 60-day extension, but if you miss this deadline, your license will become void, and you will have to reapply for a new one. The renewal fee is $40 for a journeyman license and $50 for a master electrician.
Michigan also requires a 15-hour continuing education course for electricians. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) requires renewals on one timeline and continuing education (CE) on another. This means that you need to keep track of a separate requirement on a separate timeline. However, it also means that you don't need to take CE every year. Instead, you need to take a code update course within 12 months of LARA adopting a new version of the NEC. For example, if they adopt a new version on January 4, 2023, you will have until January 4, 2024, to complete the update course.
To renew your license, you must have held a journeyman's license for at least two years, with a minimum of 12,000 hours of experience obtained over a period of at least six years related to electrical construction, the maintenance of buildings, or electrical wiring or equipment under the supervision of a master electrician. You must also take and pass the examination.
If your name or address changes, or you need a duplicate license, you can visit the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and pay a small fee.
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Frequently asked questions
To become a licensed electrical company in Michigan, you must obtain a Michigan electrician license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The cities of Grand Rapids and Detroit have their own local licensing agencies and do not require a state license. To obtain a license, you must pass an exam and meet the requirements, which include having a certain number of hours of experience and a high school diploma or GED.
The fee for the examination in Michigan is $100. When you pass the test, you will receive your journeyman license at the cost of $40 and will have to renew the license every year for $40.
The time it takes to get a license depends on the number of hours of experience you need to obtain. For a journeyman license, you need 8,000 hours of electrical trade work experience, which typically takes four years. For a master electrician license, you need 12,000 hours of experience, which takes a minimum of six years.
With a Michigan electrical license, you can operate a business and advertise services, obtain commercial insurance, pull building permits, pass inspections, and bid on public and government projects.
