Electrician Schools in Alaska: The Ultimate Guide

Accredited Alaska Electrician Training Programs

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Most electricians learn their trade in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship program. For each year of the program, apprentices typically receive 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training as well as some technical instruction. Workers who gained electrical experience in the military or in the construction industry may qualify for a shortened apprenticeship based on their experience and testing. Some electricians start out by attending a technical school. Many technical schools offer programs related to circuitry, safety practices, and basic electrical information. Graduates of these programs usually receive credit toward their apprenticeship.” 

Anyone wishing to enter the electrical industry in Alaska must learn on-the-job in a formal union or nonunion apprenticeship or an apprenticeship created by an electrical contractor who registers with the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The state requires all apprenticeships to be recognized by the DOL, Office of Apprenticeship, and classroom instruction is a mandatory part of each.

Alaska licenses every level of this workforce at the state level. Even trainees must register with the state. Journeyman and residential electricians must obtain an electrician certification from the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development. To become an independent electrical contractor and own your own business, you must also obtain professional licensing from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and a business license. Since the state of Alaska has that registered apprentice requirement, you most likely will not choose to get a postsecondary degree unless you complete a trade school program to improve your ranking on the eligibility list for the apprenticeship you want. There are also a couple of pre-apprenticeship programs you can complete to make yourself a more desirable apprenticeship candidate.

The Industrial Electricity program offered through the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) in Seward provides students with a wide variety of experiences that prepare them for entry-level employment and apprenticeship in the electrical trades. Ilisagvik College offers an Electrical Level 1 endorsement as part of its Construction Technology program designed to prepare students to enter the workforce. Alaska also has pre-apprenticeships through its Career and Technical Education in high schools and the Alaska Works Partnership.

Electrician Degrees & Certificates

As you weigh the benefit of getting formal training at a technical or community college, you will want to speak with people in the field in your state and in your local area to see if you need a certificate or endorsement to be competitive when you apply to be an apprentice. It depends on the demand in that area of the state. Since Alaska requires a DOL approved apprenticeship to become a licensed Alaska electrician, you will want to satisfy that requirement and not waste time or money along the way.

Very few electricians choose to get a four-year bachelor’s degree unless they’re seeking an electrical engineering degree.  If this is a path that interests you, you may want to explore the Electrical Engineering Bachelor of Science degrees at one of the four-year universities in Alaska like:

• University of Alaska – Anchorage

• University of Alaska – Fairbanks

As stated earlier, formal education can pay off in the form of higher wages, but if your interest lies in being an electrician or having your own business, a college degree is not necessary.

Typical Courses in Technical College Programs

Electrical programs at technical colleges are all intended to prepare students for careers in commercial, industrial, or residential electrical applications. All combine theory and the practical skills and confidence needed to work with electrical power. Most encourage students to work in their field of interest while attending school. Some programs are intended to give students a base of knowledge to prepare them to be helpers and get that first job with a licensed electrician. Typically, they include coursework in the fundamentals of the electrical trade. Classroom and laboratory experiences allow students to become proficient in the installation and maintenance of electrical wiring, transformers, A/C and D/C motor control electric circuits, instrumentation, and programmable logic controllers used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. They all cover safety and the national electric code. Among the most common classes offered in these degree programs are:

• Foundations of Mathematics

• Industrial Safety Procedures

• Direct Current

• Alternating Current

• Electrical Prints, Schematics, and Symbols

• Commercial Wiring

• Residential Wiring

• Electrical Controls

• Diagnostic Troubleshooting

School Selection Criteria

There are a lot of things to consider when picking the school and program that are right for you.

Cost

Cost is, of course, at the top of the list. In-state tuition is significantly less expensive than out-of-state tuition. Some of the programs can cost as little as $5,000 for an occupational endorsement certificate. There will be some variations in fees, so be sure to review all the costs involved. Apprenticeships are often paid for by your employer or the union.

There are also always costs for books and tools, but those tools are yours to keep as you enter your field. All students who are interested in receiving federal (Pell Grant) and any state grants apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.

Program Length

As noted above, you can choose to begin by getting a certificate or jump right into an apprenticeship. USDOL apprenticeships for electricians are at least four years long; union apprenticeships are five years.

Benefits

There are benefits to formal education and oftentimes that formal education can be applied toward a college degree, such as an associate of applied science in Electrical Construction Technology or toward experience required for licensing. For example, up to 1,000 classroom hours may apply toward requirements to sit for the State of Alaska Journeyman Electrician’s Licensing Exam.

Online vs in-person

You may choose to get preliminary electrician training through an online certificate program before beginning an apprenticeship. Only you know if this type of independent curriculum will work for you. Both Penn Foster and Ashworth College offer online electrician classes. If you know your learning style relies on personal instruction, more traditional in-person classes are available.

Level of difficulty

Electrician training programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in commercial, industrial, or residential sectors as an electrical technician. The BLS says technical instruction for apprentices includes electrical theory, blueprint reading, mathematics, electrical code requirements, and safety and first-aid practices. Students may also receive specialized training related to soldering, communications, fire alarm systems, and elevators.

School Comparison: At a Glance

Several independent electrical schools exist in Alaska. The Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) is operated by the State of Alaska as a Division of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Located in Seward, AVTEC offers Alaskans from across the state the opportunity to gain key employability and technical skills and start on a career in less than a year. Non-resident tuition is double the AVTEC regular tuition (fees, books, supplies, and housing are at the regular rate). AVTEC offers students financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, and other means and the acceptance rate is 100%. 

Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) in Anchorage, AK

Industrial Electricity | Certificate | 1,080 clock hours | $21,190 

Ilisagvik College in Barrow, AK

Electrical Level 1 | Endorsement | 9 credit hours | $205/credit

Alaska's primary union apprenticeship training program is the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Trust (AJEATT). It is a partnership between the Alaska Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547. The AJEATT has four training locations: 

• The Tom Cashen Training Center in Anchorage: (907) 337-9508

• The Kornfeind Training Center in Fairbanks: (907) 479-4449

• The IBEW Local 1547 location in Juneau: (907) 586-3050

• The IBEW Local 1547 location in Ketchikan: (907) 225-1547

They provide their classroom instruction in-house as does ABC Alaska, a nonunion trade organization made up of member contractors.

Steps for Enrollment in Alaska

Every college has its own way of doing things, but in general the process begins with applying for admission online. Some require that you pay an application fee and provide several documents. AVTEC has a web page dedicated to its application process. The AJEATT also has detailed instructions on how to apply online. In general, the application process has the following steps:

1. Complete your application.

2. Pay the application fee (if applicable).

3. Provide proof of residency to qualify for in-state tuition.

4. Have sealed official high school transcript or GED scores sent.

5. Submit placement test scores.

6. If applicable, apply for on-campus housing.

If you choose to start with an apprenticeship, you will want to contact the JATC,  Local Union, or IEC or ABC chapter closest to you. Each organization has a slightly different application process, but the application requirements in general are:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

• Must be a high school graduate, senior scheduled to graduate or have earned a GED certificate. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of their diploma or GED certificate, and an official transcript of their grades following submission of the application.

• Must have a valid driver’s license.

• Have passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or better or pass an aptitude test.

• Pass a drug screen and criminal background checks.

Electrician Career Requirements in Alaska

As mentioned earlier, Alaska requires an educational element in the training of electrical professionals before they are licensed to legally perform electrical work in the state. The state requires everyone who wants to join this workforce to complete an apprenticeship recognized by the United States Department of Labor — which means a minimum of 8,000 hours of hands-on work experience under a licensed electrician and at least 576 hours of classroom instruction. For a detailed explanation of Alaska’s electrician licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Alaska Electrical License. 

There are several classifications of licenses:

• Electrical Trainee

• Electrical Journeyman

• Electrical Residential (May only work on residential properties)

• Journeyman Power Lineman

• Power Lineman Trainee

Residential certifications need to be renewed every two years, and there are no continuing education requirements. Journeyman certifications also need to be renewed every two years. Journeymen are required to complete 16 hours of continuing education, eight of which must be a review of the National Electrical Code (NEC). A contractor license requires you to also obtain a business license and insurance. Again, you can find all of those details in our Alaska Electrical License guide.

Salaries for Electricians in Alaska

Before paying for technical education to become an electrician, you’ll want some idea of the potential return on your investment of time, effort, energy, and money. In other words, what can you expect to make as an electrical professional in Alaska? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median electrician salary in Alaska for 2023 is:

• Entry level <2 years: $56,200

• Intermediate 2-4 years: $67,000

• Senior 4-6 years: $74,500

• Supervisor > 7 years: $106,100

For more information about electrician salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.

Industry Apprenticeships

Though you may get started with an electrician trade program, a registered apprenticeship is required for any of the electrical professions in Alaska. The union apprenticeships through AJEATT are in the following areas:

• Inside wireman (commercial electrician)

• Telecommunications worker (Choose whether to apply to Inside Telecommunications or Outside Telecommunications.) 

• Outside lineman

• Line-clearance tree trimmer

You must meet all the following requirements for your AJEATT application to be accepted:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of selection.

• Have a valid driver’s license.

• Have a high school diploma or state-issued GED certificate.

• Meet the minimum math requirement through one of the following:

  • Two semesters of high school algebra 1 (or higher level algebra) with a passing grade of C or higher,

  • One post-high school algebra course with a passing grade,

  • A certificate showing completion of the NJATC tech math Course (National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee— also known as the IBEW Aptitude Test and JATC Test), or

  • The State of Alaska WorkKeys math test with a 6 or higher.

The same general requirements apply to the nonunion electrical apprenticeship offered through ABC Alaska. The program is a four-year apprenticeship. To reach journey-level you will need to complete five levels of book work and 8,000 on-the-job training hours. Apprentices work for member contractors with an opportunity for increased wages each year until reaching journeyman status.

Some companies will hire applicants who have had no previous training and provide the training themselves — creating an in-house apprenticeship. A typical model of that is pairing a new employee with an experienced, licensed electrician for the hands-on part of training and then requiring new hires to attend classes at night at a local community college, through online classes, or sometimes taught through the company itself. You can find these opportunities on job boards, and all will typically prepare you for the license exam. Your employer will have to sign up to be an apprentice sponsor on the Alaska Workforce Investment Board website. 

The state also has a website dedicated to registered apprenticeships for job seekers. 

Other School Options

There are training programs throughout the state. In addition to all those already mentioned, here are a few more where you can get started on your training before beginning an apprenticeship; many of these will count toward your required hours for licensing. 

• Alaska Construction Academies (ACA) are in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Borough, and Ketchikan with regional academies in Bethel, Kodiak, and Nome training high school students and adults to be placed into high-demand construction and trade apprenticeship programs. ACA works with members of the Home Building Associations, apprenticeship programs, and local school districts to ensure participants receive the standard skills necessary for entry into construction occupations by providing School-to-Apprenticeship training programs for high school students and evening classes for adults.

• University of Alaska Fairbanks offers several electrical classes including Residential Electrical Level 1.

• Alaska Works Partnership offers a variety of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs including Electrical.

You can find the training you need to excel in a plumbing career in Alaska. The opportunities are all around you!