Electrician Training in South Dakota: Start Your Professional Journey 

Electrician Training in South Dakota

Are you looking for electrician training in South Dakota? Do you want to live a good life and retire comfortably? If so, you are in the right place.

Electrician demand in South Dakota is expected to increase by 10% until the year 2024 according to the Department of Labor. Some of the top paid electricians in South Dakota get paid an annual salary of $91,000. Compare this with other professions such as:

  • HVAC: $46,030
  • Plumber: $43,800
  • Carpenter:  $33,100
  • Construction Labor:$26,500

Every year at least 55 electricians are needed to meet employment demand according to the South Dakota electrical board. If this demand is not met then electrical wages will continue to rise.

To learn more you can simply navigate through the quick start menu below.

Gaining the Experience Required to Become a Journeyman

The first step to becoming an independent electrical contractor is becoming a Journeyman. As a journeyman, you will be able to work on minor contracts and earn an hourly wage or around $24.69. All this time you will work under the supervision of a superior.

To qualify as a Journeyman you must meet the following minimum requirements;

Alternatively,

  • Join a technical school and gain at least 3 years of job experience

If you are new to this profession, the best way to join the industry is to join a trade school and later an apprentice program. A trade school will teach you the basics making it easy for a layman to comprehend electrical concepts.

There are four ways in which you can get electrical training in South Dakota. These are;

  • Through a Technical college
  • Through a Union Apprenticeship
  • Through a Non-union Apprenticeship
  • Through the Muth Electrical INC
Electrician Training in South Dakota

Electrical Training in South Dakota Through a Technical College

This is one of the easiest ways of starting a new career especially if you do not have any prior knowledge on the subject. If you join an electrician school in South Dakota expect to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Trades degree which is a 2-year course.

If you are a practical person then you are in luck because most of your training will be hands-on. Expect to cover the following subjects;

  • Blueprint Reading
  • Basic math Computations
  • Electrical theory
  • Algebra with Trigonometry
  • Telecom Cabling
  • OSHA Regulations
  • First Aid
  • Basic Telecommunications
  • Basic Alarm Technology
  • Semi-Conductors
  • Fire Access
  • CCT systems
  • Programmable Controllers
  • Logic Circuits
  • Load calculations
  • Power Distribution

There are two main benefits to joining a technical school program. These are;

  1. You are allowed to get a journeyman license with only three years of experience instead of four
  2. After getting an Applied Science in Electrical Trades degree you immediately qualify for an entry-level apprenticeship position

Electrical Contracting Companies to Consider

In case you are wondering which electrical companies in South Dakota are offering apprenticeship positions, have a look at the list below. The list includes names of leading electrical companies that frequently employ apprentices and are well known for their electrician training programs. The companies are:

  • Freeman Electric
  • Clarke Electric
  • Cherne Contracting
  • Conrad’s Big C electric
  • AL Sutton Electric
  • Muth Electric, Inc.

How Do I Register for an Electrical Apprenticeship?

Before we discuss the different types of apprenticeship programs, it is important to know how to register for one so you are not left out.

All apprenticeship licenses are issued by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Electrical commission. If you get your license make sure to renew it every two years.

Electrician Training in South Dakota Through a Union-Apprenticeship

In South Dakota, unionized apprenticeship is facilitated by the Dakota Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee. This committee is a result of the collaboration between the National electrical contractors Association {NECA} and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers {IBEW}.

To be a member of this training committee the following requirements must be fulfilled;

  • Have a valid South Dakota Driver’s License
  • Have a copy of your GED or high school diploma
  • Prove that you have passed an Algebra 1 Class
  • Show proof that you are either 18 Years or above

The Dakota Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee operates in three states;

  • South Dakota
  • Minnesota 
  • North Dakota

Electrician School in South Dakota Through a Non-Unionized Apprenticeship Program

A non-union apprenticeship program is where you get enrolled in an electrical company that is not part of a union. This arrangement is done via the independent Electrical Contractors Association of Dakota {IEC}. 

Under the Electrical Contractors Association, you will be required to undergo a mandatory classroom training program 576 hours. 

Through Muth Electrical Inc.

The Muth Electrical Inc. prides itself for being the largest electrical company in South Dakota. The company is well known for its electrical prowess and this is one of the main reasons that it is licensed to offer apprenticeship programs.

Under the Muth electrician training program, an apprentice must complete 576 classroom training hours. To graduate from the program, an apprentice must also gain professional work experience of at least 8,000 hours. 

If all the above requirements are met, you are awarded a journeyman license.

Two electrical companies have been licensed by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulations to offer apprenticeship opportunities to aspiring electrical power linemen. These companies are:

  • Rosebud Power line Services In Newell
  • Govert Power line Services 

Only two municipalities have been licensed to offer apprenticeships. These are:

  • City of Volga
  • City of Mclaughlin

Sitting for Your Journeyman Exam

After a few years of electrical training, it is now time to become a journeyman. Becoming a journeyman shows that you understand electrical code standards and you can work without supervision.

The first process is to fill out an application and send it to the electrical commission who will verify whether you have met the minimum requirement needed to sit for the exam. After your application has been reviewed and accepted, you will receive a letter on when to sit for the exam. 

The pass mark for the exam is 70% and you will be evaluated on both theoretical and practical concepts. Once you qualify, you must renew your license every 24 months.

Electrician training in South Dakota does not stop once you become a journeyman. This is because within two years you should have completed 8 classroom hours on electrical codes to be eligible to renew your license.

Becoming an Independent Electrical Contractor

This is the strawberry of the cake. An independent electrical contractor license is what makes this journey worth it. You will be able to bid for gigantic mega projects that will change your life forever.  You will also be able to register your own company and hire journeymen to work for you. 

Before you get an independent electrical license you are required to meet the following qualification:

  • To have been a journeyman for at least 2 years
  • Show proof you have a Public Liability Insurance of $100,000
  • Give a $10,000 bond to the commission
  • Prove that you have bodily injury insurance of $300,000
  • Prove that you have a property damage insurance of $300,000

If you meet these qualifications, send an application letter to the commission which will then schedule an exam for you. If you pass the exam, you must continue training on electrical codes or you will not be eligible to renew your license. 

Electrician Training in South Dakota

Salaries and Job Outlook

As a result of the construction boom in South Dakota, the economy has been thriving. The construction industry has also increased electrician demand in the region.

According to the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, the annual demand for electricians stands at 265 compared to 157 for construction workers and 190 for office administrative support workers. According to the body, those with the most experience earn more than their peers.

General Electrician Annual Wage  

  • Transport Electronics Installers and Repairers: $32000
  • Electrical Repairers of Commercial and Industrial Equipment: $48,640 
  • Help-Electricians: $28,800
  • Electrical Engineers: $84,000 

Electrician Salaries in Sioux Falls

  • Electrical and Electronics Repairers {Industrial and Commercial Equipment}: $45,900 - $59,000
  • Power line Repairers and Installers: $70,000 – $91,200
  • Fire Alarm and Security Installers: $52,900 – $67,500
  • Home Entertainment and Equipment Installer: $31,810 - $44,700

Electrician Salaries in West Rural South Dakota

  • Power line Repairers and Installers: $67,500 - $82,000

Rapid City 

  • Electronic Repairers {Industrial and Commercial Equipment}: $43,400 - $61,300
  • Power-Line Installers and Repairers: $68,000 - $78,900

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