Electrical Apprenticeship
Electricians install and maintain electrical and power systems for homes, businesses, and factories. They install and maintain wiring and electrical control equipment, work with their hands, encounter versatile and challenging tasks, and enjoy attractive compensation and job security.
The Electrical Apprenticeship program is offered through a partnership with the Harford County Electrical Contractors Association (HCECA) and combines on-the-job training (OJT) with the formal related technical classroom instruction you need to prepare for this high-demand field. This means you get paid to work while you receive a top-notch education in the electrical field.
Program Overview
Credential Earned:
Successfully complete this four-year program and you will earn a Journeyperson Electrician certificate from the Maryland Department of Labor. (Electrical licenses will be issued by examination through the state of Maryland.)
Hours Required:
144 hours of in-classroom instruction two evenings per week, Sept - May, for a total of 576 hours over four years, plus 2,000 hours on-the-job training each year (the equivalent of a full-time job), for a total of 8,000 hours over four years.
Format:
In-classroom (some may be virtual), plus on-the-job training
Contact Information:
Harford County Electrical Contractors Association
443.412.2800
Costs:
Approximate cost per year is $1,700 (includes books).
Requirements:
- Must be at least 16 years of age (work permit required if under 18)
- Must have a high school diploma or GED
- Must have a valid driver's license and possess transportation
- Must be able to pass a basic math and comprehension assessment
- Must have a valid email address and be able to access onine curriculum
Courses
Classroom instruction includes:
- Basic Theory & Fundamentals of Electricity
- AC/DC Circuitry
- Motors, Generators, Transformers
- Grounding & Bonding
- Solar Photovoltaic Systems
- Power Quality
- Raceway, Box & Conductor Sizing
- Calculations, etc.
On-the-job training enables you to learn skills to troubleshoot, repair, replace, and build/wire electrical systems for sports facilities, factories, homes, shopping centers, and restaurants, along with learning safety guidelines and regulations required for electricians.
What Can I Do When I Complete This Program?
After completing this program, you will possess a journeyperson certificate which will increase your marketability as an electrician and qualify you to earn a journeyperson's wage. Electrical licenses will be issued by examination through the State of Maryland. Students may continue on to become Master Electricians and even own their own business. They also have the option to enroll in a Harford Community College program with up to 21 college credit hours transferrable toward an associate degree upon completion of their apprenticeship.
In general, electricians focus on either construction or maintenance, although many do both. Electricians specializing in construction primarily install wiring systems in factories, businesses, and new homes. Those specializing in maintenance fix and upgrade existing electrical systems and repair electrical equipment. All electricians must follow state and local building codes and the National Electrical Code when performing their work.
Employment
In addition to jobs created by the increased demand for electrical work, openings are expected to grow over the next decade as electricians retire. This will create good job opportunities, especially for those with the widest range of skills, including voice, data, and video wiring. Employment of electricians is predicted to increase 8 percent between 2019-29. In 2020, average hourly wages of electricians in Maryland were $28.75*.
*Completion of this program does not guarantee this wage. Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-6.
Who Teaches This Program?
Harford County Electrical Contratcors Association's instructors come from varied electrical careers including electrical engineers, master electricians, electrical inspectors and utility technicians, along with industrial, commercial, and residential electrical contractors. The comprehensive curriculum is approved by the Maryland Department of Labor.
Next Steps
Applications for entry into the program are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. The application deadline for the 2022-23 academic year is May 31, 2022. Classes begin in September and are held twice a week in the evening through May. To learn more, please visit hcecamd.org.