What's the difference between a Master and a Journeyman electrician?

We realize some of our readers may be considering a career in the electrical industry. What does the process look like? Where does all your work lead you? All of these questions are legitimate and worth considering when entering into a trade. Well, we can help! In this brief overview, we wish to highlight the difference between a master electrician and a journeyman electrician. This should help you plan your next career move with greater foresight.

So, where to start? Local state governments, not central government, will issue electrician licences. However, the state does follow the National Electrical Code, which divides electricians into three broad categories: apprentices, journeymen, and masters.

So let's start with some basics.

What is an apprentice electrician?

The difference between a Master and Journeyman electrician begins with an apprenticeship. An apprentice is basically a trainee working under the direct supervision of a master electrician. He or she will spend three to six years training for the role. Apprentices receive classroom instruction while working alongside a licensed electrician – learning the trade first-hand on the job.

At the end of the apprenticeship, the new "green" electrician needs to pass a journeyman test. This test basically covers basic electrical knowledge and the National Electrical Code. Apprentices are granted their skilled electrician license through this. Therefore, in addition to practical training, significant classroom instruction is required. Apprenticeships let these budding electricians learn and learn the best ways to get the job done right the first time!

Many apprentice electricians can meet the requirements for a journeyman license through a technical school. They may also work through affiliate programs of the Electrical Training Alliance.

Graduated as a skilled electrician

Graduate as a journeyman through a required apprenticeship. In addition to passing the journeyman license exam, after several years of apprenticeship, journeymen can work independently without direct supervision. Of course, all of this is subject to state and local jurisdiction.

Journey electricians still work under the tutelage of a master electrician, but their license certifies that they can handle wiring, receptacle and fixture installation themselves. A journeyman should be able to perform any service work and fix any electrical problems that arise on the job site. Depending on which master electrician the journeyman works under, he may specialize in residential or commercial and industrial installations.

If a journeyman wishes to continue his education, he typically works for another three to six years. During this time, he gained experience and training along the way. He will continue his education in the basics of electricity, but he will also receive training in building codes, project management, and safety procedures and regulations.

A variety of career and technical schools offer master's certification programs. These courses are jointly designed and conducted by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

What is a Certified Master Electrician?

Certified Master Electricians are professional electricians who hold the highest level of certification in their field. You can't, however, just "pass the test". Becoming a Certified Master Electrician requires a certain number of years of skilled electrician experience (usually 2-3 years or 4,000+ hours of field work). Then you "get" to take and pass rigorous exams. While the requirements and steps required to become a Certified Master Electrician vary by certification body and jurisdiction, you can expect some of the following:

• Hold a 2+ year (4,000+ hours) journeyman electrician certificate
• Pass the Advanced Electrician certification exam (planned to add approximately 144 class hours). The minimum passing mark is usually 70%.
• Satisfy local municipality requirements for a Master of Electrician certificate

After master's certification, electricians will demonstrate competency in several key areas. They can initiate projects, apply for permits for new construction and installations, and supervise apprentices and journeyman workers.

Master electricians lay out and select wiring and connection types according to electrical codes. He can lay out the circuit and choose the location of the circuit breaker panel. Many Master Electricians choose to obtain a contractor's license so they can run their own business and/or work as a subcontractor. The final step requires holding several types of insurance policies, including general liability and property damage policies with specific coverage.

Types of Electrician or Electrical Contractor License

While the different types of electrician or electrical contractor licenses vary from state to state, Florida has the following types of licenses that you can use as a guide:

• Registered Electrical Contractor: Designs, installs and/or maintains electrical systems.
• Alarm System Contractors : Deal with various types of alarm systems.
• Electrical Specialty Contractor : Works in specialized electrical fields, such as elevator or fixture maintenance.

To obtain an electrical contractor license, you will generally need to meet a series of requirements. For example, Florida requires you to be a licensed electrical engineer for 3 of the past 12 years, or you need to have management experience in the industry for at least 3 of the past 6 years. Alternatively, you can have at least 4 years of experience as an electrical foreman, supervisor, or contractor within the past 8 years, or 6 years of general training, technical education, or extensive experience related to electrical contracting within the past 12 years.

If you have served in the military or worked for the federal government, you may also qualify by having 6 or more years of technical experience in electrical work.

Within the above requirements, anyone applying to become a certified electrical contractor must complete at least 40% of three-phase (commercial) service work.

Continuing Education

The state requires both master's and journeyman electricians to take annual continuing education courses. This keeps them abreast of new codes and regulations in the electrical field. Like certification courses, electricians can take these courses through trade schools or online.

For example, in Florida, certified and registered electricians are required to take 14 hours of continuing education every 2 years. These courses must include at least 7 hours of technical issues, 1 hour of workers' compensation, 1 hour of business topics, and 1 hour of safety.

final thoughts

As you can see, studying the electrical trade is a lot of work. Masters and Journeymen have to spend a considerable amount of time learning it. After all, using electricity comes with many inherent risks. Not just any dumbass on the street should be rooting around electrical wires, cords, outlets, and circuit breakers.

To get to the very top of the electrical food chain, one may need to invest in the industry for 6 to 12 years.

So, to answer the original question, the basic difference between a master electrician and a journeyman electrician boils down to work experience, substantial education, and state certification.

For more information on master and journeyman requirements by state, please view https://www.electriciansschooledu.org/state-by-state-licensing-guide