If you have an outlet that is not working or have breakers that keep tripping or need help installing a light fixture, you know who to call – and Electrician.  Jobs dealing with electricity can be dangerous and require proper training to complete safely.  Electrical work is generally beyond the capabilities of your typical DIYer.  However, you probably don’t know that there are different skill levels of electricians out there with varying amounts of training and experience.

Journeyman Electricians vs. Master Electricians

Licensed electricians fall into one of two main categories:  Journeyman and Master electricians.

A Journeyman electrician has generally:

• Completed a training course (usually two years);
• Worked as an apprentice with a licensed electrician for several years (the require varies by area of the country);
• And successfully completed a California licensing exam.

This training qualifies him or her to work alone on most electrical installations and repairs and on both homes and businesses.

A Master electrician has gone beyond this level and used his Journeyman training to create a name for himself and a reputation for excellence.  To become a Master electrician, a person must work as a journeyman electrician for a number of years.  The exact number of years varies by state.  After they have the required years of experience, the electrician becomes eligible to take more advanced training and must pass a master electrician licensing exam.  In order to keep this designation, they are required to complete a certain number of hours of continuing education each year on related topics to stay up to date on new code requirements, products and procedures.

In addition to performing the same work as a journeyman electrician, a master electrician can supervise journeymen electricians and work as a building inspector.  Depending on the scope of your work, you may want to hire a master electrician rather than a journeyman – for example if you are having an electrical system completely replaced, upgraded or installed from the ground up where the work is fairly extensive or complicated.  Their added experience and training may come in handy, whether they are performing the work themselves or overseeing journeymen electricians.