How to Become an Electrician in New Jersey

New Jersey is a place where there are plenty of new construction and development opportunities.

And as these opportunities expand, job opportunities for electricians continue to expand as well.

That means there’s plenty of work for licensed electricians, and plenty of high pay too.

If that sounds good to you and you’re interested in becoming an electrician in New Jersey, keep reading to find out how you can!

Electrician Job Duties and Skills In New Jersey

Some job duties and responsibilities of electricians may include:

• Installing and connecting electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
• Operating a variety of hand and light power tools to splice wires and cut or drill wiring holes for fixtures and conduits.
• Performing preventative maintenance plus the testing of electrical wiring, motors, and fixtures when necessary.

As for some soft skills that are required to excel as an electrician, you’ll need to have:

• Good communication
• Customer service skills
• Management abilities
• Basic computer skills
• Basic math skills
• Critical thinking abilities
• Problem-solving capabilities

And more.

How to Become an Electrician In New Jersey

One – Meet the Education Requirements 

In New Jersey, you absolutely must gain at least 576 hours of classroom training before you can qualify for an electrical license.

But you may be wondering how you can get these hours.

You’ll need to enroll in a school of your choice.

You can attend a community college, or you can choose to go through a technical or vocational college instead.

Two – Meet the Work Requirements

New Jersey also has some required work hours.

You’ll need to gain about 8,000 hours of work experience before you can qualify for the license.

The way you can gain this work experience is by joining an apprenticeship program and becoming an apprentice.

This could also be a great way to gain more classroom hours, as most apprenticeships will offer at least a few if not all of the classroom hours you’ll need to get your license.

Three – Apply for Your License

It will take you a couple of years to gain both the class and work experience required to obtain your license, but once you do, you’re free to apply for it!

You’ll have to take a licensing exam, and if you pass, you’ll receive your license!

This exam is open-book and has 150 questions.

To pass, you must score at least 70%.

Training Programs for Electricians In New Jersey

Electrical Training Academy | ETA Bootcamp

Electrical Bootcamp Training Academy is an accelerated pre-apprenticeship electrical program.

It is designed to provide an introduction to the electrical industry for ambitious students who are eager to get a taste of what it’s like.

All graduates of the program receive an OSHA-30 certification.

The program is very practical and trains students to perform special tasks while also timing them to ensure they can deliver the work within an adequate timeframe.

It offers modular-style training, stating that, “A module is 3 hours, 2 nights a week. After every 3 modules, you will be tested on your knowledge of the curriculum.”

HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences

HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences offers an accelerated learning program to help students graduate faster and promises to always maintain small class sizes so each student’s individual needs are adequately met.

The program can be completed in as little as nine months or can take up to eighteen months to complete.

It features a variety of modern welding and machine shops for students to get some hands-on learning experience and work experience.

The Electrician Apprenticeship Diploma Program prepares students to install and maintain electrical wiring systems, and supply light, power, air-conditioning, and refrigeration for private and commercial buildings.

The main things students will be able to learn from this program are:

• Practical skills.
• The ability to follow technical drawings, building plans, and wiring diagrams.
• The ability to work carefully, methodically, and safely.

And more.

Pennco Tech

Pennco Tech’s Electrician program lasts for about 26 weeks and offers both day and evening classes.

A hands-on approach to education is the focus of this program and experienced instructors offer one-on-one, personalized opportunities for students to learn.

In the classroom, students will learn key techniques, problem-solving safety procedures, blueprint reading, government regulations, physics, and chemistry.

Hands-on experience can be gained in the lab, and students will also have the option to receive their OSHA 10 certification which is now required for any electricians working within Philadelphia or on any government-funded job site.

A few more things you can expect to learn throughout this program include:

• Basic electrical theory, mathematics, and load calculations
• Understanding of voltage, current, resistance, transformers, and power
• DC, AC, and other fundamentals of electricity
• Wiring, single-phase, 3-phase motors, and electrical controls

And more.

Electrician Salaries In New Jersey

In New Jersey, an electrician’s salary will depend greatly on several different factors.

Naturally, it will depend on your knowledge, experience, and expertise.

However, it can also depend on which city the electrician lives in!

Down below, you can take a look at how the average salary varies depending on the city.

Annual Salary Range: Annual Salary by Location:

Location	Avg. Annual Salary
Jersey City	$76,681
Paterson	$75,245
Dover	$74,233
Newark	$73,874
Elizabeth	$73,874
Edison	$73,222
Woodbridge	$73,222
Trenton	$71,180
Atlantic City	$69,904
Camden	$69,254

Regional Salary in New Jersey

* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Electricians, OCC Code 47-2111, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to be an electrician in NJ?

Yes, it’s illegal to work as an electrician without a license in New Jersey.

Can I become an electrician with only a GED in New Jersey?

Yes, you need a high school diploma or the equivalent (GED) to become an electrician in New Jersey.

How long is the New Jersey's electrical exam?

In total, it should take six hours or less.

Electrician Info by State