Ohio electrical licensing requirements

That means you can escape the four-year university system and the potentially crippling debt that comes with it while still landing a well-paying job with benefits. Mechanics, plumbers, welders, ironworkers, carpenters, and electricians are examples of trade vocations. These vocations are evergreen since people will always require free-flowing water, automobiles, housing, and power.

Every sector has peaks and troughs, but trade professions provide a lot of employment security and can be done anywhere. The trade-off is that the electrical trade is one of the most hazardous due to the risk of electrocution and electrical fire. In Ohio, a quick but steady boom in building began in , resulting in a significant increase in demand for electrical contractors. Northeastern Ohio has the third biggest increase in electrician jobs of any rural location in the country.

Find out more here. There are three primary paths to becoming a successful journeyman. These three pathways frequently cross. Someone may begin educating themselves on the trade of electrical artistry on their own and discover that they require the assistance that a technical school can supply. Before taking the licensing exam, one can participate in a combined apprenticeship and training program, which can subsequently lead to high-paying employment.

There is no such thing as a terrible entrance point, but it is beneficial to understand what each path entails. Unlike many other states in the country, Ohio does not require electricians to have any kind of license or degree. For commercial electricians who wish to form a firm or recruit junior electricians, the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board demands schooling, on-the-job or apprenticeship training, an exam, and more. Consider this when you begin to educate yourself by reading books, watching videos, and completing a myriad of free online courses.

Many licensed electrical contractors in Ohio will accept junior tradesmen into shadowing programs who have no formal schooling or previous on-site experience. Technical colleges provide courses in a variety of practical areas, ranging from computer technology to plumbing and general electrical work, as well as agricultural and clerical jobs. By offering career-oriented licensing and certification programs, most technical institutions expedite the employment hunt.

For electricians, there are several excellent national, state, and municipal technical school programs. A two-year degree in applied electrical technology would certainly suffice. Most journeyman and electrical contractor licensing programs include a classroom-based technical training component. Schools may also help you connect with professional networks of journeymen and licensed contractors, many of whom are always looking for informal trainees and formal apprentices.

It might be difficult to find these chances on your own, and without the backing of a well-known Technical College, it can be difficult to get through to busy working professionals. The vast majority of working electricians in Ohio advance from a technical college into an apprenticeship.

These immersive training programs offer year on-the-job training that combines experiential and paid job site education, electrical theory courses, and license preparation—the vast majority of working electricians in Ohio advance from a technical college into an apprenticeship.

They will be able to find work after passing the electrical contractor test and obtaining their contractor license. Most Ohio apprenticeships are union-affiliated. Either way, you can expect to spend two to four years completing your apprenticeship. Trade schools and technical colleges offer accelerated learning and cutting-edge technology to future electricians. While you can expect to spend most of your time in the classroom or shop, many Ohio technical colleges have online courses, so you can finish your general education requirements quickly and focus on your trade.

College can be expensive, so ask each school about their financial aid options. You will need to fill out. A bulletin explaining the exam will be given to you upon the approval of your application. Unions benefit their members by providing higher wages, safer working conditions, and better job stability than non-union employers. Contractors use unions to network throughout the nation and get the edge on upcoming industry trends.

Unions also are the source of most apprenticeships in Ohio; the National Training Alliance has 17 different Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees in Ohio, connecting people with hundreds of apprenticeships each year.

Overall, union affiliation boosts the career of tradesmen. Your job search should begin with your alma mater or union. Technical colleges and trade schools have career departments for their alumni to help them connect with employers. Unions always keep updated job boards filled with local contractors seeking help in the field.

If all else fails, trade shows and conventions can help you network in the industry. At a job interview, you can expect your interviewer to ask about past work experience.

They may ask if you have a specialty or any expertise. Interviewers like to focus on work ethic when they vet potential employees.

Always come to an interview prepared for questions about electrical work and business practices. Lapses in coverage can suspend your license. All trade industries can be dangerous. That said, union protection and better state guidelines have made the electrical industry safer over the last few decades. Ohio offers steady work and competitive pay for electricians. As the housing market shifts towards favoring alternative energy, it is imperative for electrical contractors to stay up-to-date on new technology.

National trade shows. Any local licenses, such as the Hamilton and Middletown journeyman licenses, are only valid in Ohio. You can use. To register a change of address or apply for a duplicate license, you must contact the.