Electrician Training in Alaska: Start Your Professional Journey

Electrician Training in Alaska

Are you looking for electrician training in Alaska? Do you want to live a good life and retire wealthy? If so you are in the right place!

Did you know that as an electrician in Alaska you will earn $119,860 per year? This figure is higher in areas such as the Balance of Alaska. Compare this with the annual average wage of a plumber in the same area which is $70,480 and $66,150 for a carpenter. The main aim of waking up each day and going to work is to ensure that we have a comfortable retirement when we are in our sunset years. Sadly, not every profession can guarantee you this.

Depending on your specialization, your annual wage can rise to $121,360 such as that of an electrical power line installer in the Balance of Alaska. Even before we divulge into more details, it is clear that being an electrician offers you an opportunity to eat life with a silver spoon. 

The menu below is a quick way to navigate through this training module and for you to understand what it takes to became a certified electrician.

The following electrician training steps will guide you on the best ways to reach your professional goals and live a comfortable life.

  • Enrolling for an apprentice program
  • Sitting and passing for a Residential Electrician exam
  • Becoming an Independent Contractor

1. Electrician Training in Alaska as an Apprentice

Before you become an independent contractor with the power to bid for multi-million dollar projects in your area, you must enroll in a local union apprenticeship program. This is a program organized by local unions who pull their resources together to offer quality training through an organization known as the Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees {JATCs}.

In Alaska, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Chapter of National Electrical Contractors work together through the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Trust {AJEATT}. The main goal of the trust is to provide apprenticeship opportunities to aspiring electricians.

To qualify as a Journeyman, you will have to spend a minimum of 1,400 hours in a classroom-based electrical school and gain at least 4,000 hours of hands-on experience.

Electrician Training in Alaska

Requirements Required to Join the AJEATT

To join the AJEATT, you must meet the following requirements;

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a high school diploma or college degree
  • Have a valid Alaska driving license
  • Provide copies of your driving license
  • Either pass an online math algebra 1 class course  or a test offered by the state of Alaska Job Center
  • Provided certified and signed  transcripts of your high school degree

If you meet these qualifications then fill out the form below by clicking here.

Note: You must ensure that you are registered with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. You can register using this application.

Your electrician training will consist of the following topics;

  • Electrical theory
  • Blueprint Reading
  • AC/DC currents
  • Motors and Transformers
  • Electrical code standards
  • OSHA Regulations/safety/First Aid
  • Welding

5 Electrician Tools You Will Need

As you start your journey to becoming an independent contractor, you will be required to have some basic tools. Some of these tools are;

Pliers

Electrician training cannot be complete without the use of pliers. Pliers are important because they help you to twist wires. Make sure your pliers are insulated with a firm grip.

Needle-Nose Pliers

Just like all electrician tools, a needle-nose plier should be insulated. This tool helps you to reach for items such as fasteners or small screws that may have fallen in a small space.

Stripping Tool

This is probably one of the most important tools you will ever get. Just as the name suggests, the tool helps you to remove insulation on wires. Before you buy a stripping tool, make sure the spring is not too tight or loose.

Claw Hammer

If you are a commercial or residential electrician, then a claw hammer will be your best friend. This tool is used to remove wood pieces on nails when you are doing your wiring. Do not forget the Number one golden rule of electricity, “Use an Insulated Tool.”

Voltage Testers 

These are tools that will help you know the voltage. The simpler the tester, the better. Look for a tester that has a hands free operation as much as possible.

To learn more about electrician tools, check out our tool section.

2. Sitting for Your Journey or Residential Electrician Exam

Once you have met the standard legal requirements you can apply for your residential electrician license or a Journeyman License.  Though you will not be able to bid for million-dollar contracts you will be able to earn a minimum hourly wage of at least $37.88. You will also be able to work on both commercial and residential properties as long as you get a Journeyman license and not a residential license.

Note: A residential license confines you to residential properties only. This means you are not eligible to work on commercial properties.

Requirements for a Residential Certificate

The following requirements must be met for you to attain a residential certificate. These requirements are;

  • Attain at least 500 classroom hours of training
  • Attain at least 4,000 work hours
  • Fill out a residential exam application

Once you fill out the application, you will be contacted to take your exam and if you are successful you became a qualified residential electrician. 

Note: If you became a residential electrician, you will not be required to further your education. However, you will only work on residential properties. 

Requirements for a Journeyman Electrician

The following requirements must be met before you become a qualified Journeyman;

  • Have 1,000 classroom training hours
  • Have at least 6,000 work hours in an industrial or commercial property
  • Have 2,000 hours of working in a residential property
  • Fill an application form

Unlike a residential electrician, your electrician training in Alaska does not stop. As you further your education, you will have to spend at least 8 hours reviewing the National Electric Code for your license to be renewed. The license is renewed every year.

3. Becoming an Independent Contractor

Becoming an independent contractor is like a soldier who rises through the rank to become a five-star general. You no longer salute to lower rank as lower rank salutes to you. At this stage, the only limit is your imagination.

You can either become an independent contractor by becoming an electrical administrator or by obtaining an Alaska Business License. The following steps are mandatory to becoming an electrical administrator; 

Selecting the Specific Category you are Interested in

There are numerous categories to choose from. These are;

  • Residential wiring
  • Unlimited commercial wiring
  • Inside communications
  • Controls and Control wiring
  • Outside communications
  • Unlimited Outside Linework 

Apply for an Electrical Administrator License

The first process is to apply for a license using this application form. At the same time the following documents must be submitted;

  • Proof of your experience by submitting  three references
  • A resume detailing your experience {should be Relevant to the category you choose}
  • Official transcripts from your trade school or university

The last and final stage is to ensure that you apply all your electrical knowledge when sitting for your matching exam. The exam will be administered by PSI Exams.

Taking Your Electrician Training in Alaska to the Next Level

Once you have hired someone who has an independent electrical license or obtained your administrator license, it is now time to take your electrician training in Alaska to a whole new level; starting an Alaska Business.

The following steps will help you start an Alaskan business;

  • Register your Business with the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
  • Receive an Alaska Business Number
  • Apply for a business license 
  • Renew the license once or twice a year

This license will enable you to operate as an independent contractor and this means you can hire and bid for projects.

Electrician Training in Alaska

4. Electrician Salaries in Alaska

According to the US Bureau of Statistics, electricians in Alaska were among the highest paid in America. Statistics have also shown that it is more profitable to undergo an electrician training in Alaska program than a plumbing program. 

Though salaries differ from one place to another, the best place to be an electrician is Anchorage. Other states are;

  • Fairbank
  • Balance of Alaska
  • Southeast Alaska

Annual Salaries for Residential Electricians in Urban Areas

  • Anchorage AK: $97,990
  • Fairbanks: $97,160
  • Balance of Alaska: $89,00
  • Southeast Alaska: $70,00

Specialist Salaries Throughout Alaska Based on their Specialization

Fairbanks:

  • Commercial and industrial equipment electricians: $84,650

Anchorage: 

  • Fire alarm installers: $98,500
  • Power line installers and repairers: $104,170
  • Electricians specializing in industrial and commercial electronics: $96,200

Southeast Alaska Rural Area

  • Power lines installers and Repairers: $102,720

Electricians with the Highest Hourly Wage According to BLS

  • Electrical Engineers: $57.27 hourly
  • Electrical and electronics repairers {Powerhouses and Substations}: $43.10 hourly
  • Power line Installer and Repairers: $42.33 hourly
  • Electrical and Electronic Technicians: $39.79 hourly
  • Electrical and Electronic Repairers {Commercial and Residential Equipment}: $38.59 hourly

Taking all of the required electrician training in Alaska will take some time. To know more about the available electrician training schools in your area and to start this exciting journey as a professional electrician, check out our ebook.

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