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How to Become Journeyman Electrician

Key steps to becoming a journeyman electrician.

Updated on

September 17, 2021

Journeyman electrician is a certification granted to individuals who successfully complete two to six years of apprenticeship training and pass the journeyman licensing examination.

It takes about 5-6 years of working as an apprentice to become a fully-certified journeyman electrician with the necessary credentials to take up journey electrician jobs.

Journeyman electricians are required to attain the training, knowledge, and experience necessary to work on their own – allowing them to gain more experience to qualify for a master electrician license.

They are also required to have a full understanding of the National Electrical Code.

Categories of Journeyman Electricians

Journeyman electricians fall in two primary categories: i.) linemen and ii.) wiremen.

Linemen (outside electricians) – Journeyman linemen operate outdoors and their primary duty is to maintain electrical power systems, from power plants to substation through to the power meter.

These electricians also install and maintain insulators, underground distribution systems, transmission lines, transformers and other power-related equipment.

They also set electric towers and poles.

Wiremen (inside electricians) – As the name suggests, these electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems that are fitted inside buildings. They work at lower voltages.

Wiremen journey electrician jobs include installation and maintenance of all types of electrical power systems within residential, commercial and industrial facilities that connect to lighting, heaters, etc.

How to Become Journeyman Electrician

As stated above, it takes about 5-6 years of working as an apprentice to become a fully-certified journeyman electrician with the credentials to take up journey electrician jobs.

This training comprises 500 to 1,000 classroom hours along with 8,000 to 10,000 hours of supervised work experience in the field.

Each state determines the number of hours that a trainee must complete to qualify to become a journey man.

In Colorado, for example, an apprentice is required to complete at least 8,000 hours (achieved in at least four years) of electrical construction wiring experience for power, heat, and lights to get a license.

To qualify for a journeyman lineman license in Texas, candidates are required to possess at least 7,000 hours of supervised work experience in the field or 3.5 years of working as a journeyman lineman for an electric utility, electrical contractor, municipally owned utility, or electrical cooperative.

After working as a journeyman electrician for about two years (equivalent to about 4,000 hours), you become eligible to take a competency test to become a master electrician.

As a master electrician, your primary role will be to create concepts for complex projects as well as supervising what journeyman electricians and apprentices do.