You do not need a college degree or a pile of student debt to become an electrician. You need a high school diploma or GED, a paid apprenticeship and the willingness to show up and learn. Most electricians reach journeyman level in four to five years and roughly 8,000 hours of hands-on experience, collecting a paycheck the whole way.
At DP Electric, that path runs through DP University, our in-house, NCCER-accredited four-year apprenticeship. It costs you nothing, pays you from your first shift and puts you on real projects across Arizona and Texas. Whether you are finishing high school, changing careers or leaving the military, here is how to get started.
Step 1: Get hired into a paid apprenticeship
Your first move is to get hired, not enrolled. An electrical contractor brings you on as an employee, pays you from day one, and pairs you with experienced electricians on live projects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that apprentices log around 2,000 paid field hours a year with technical classes built in.
Before you sign on, ask three questions: Is the program accredited? Does it cost you anything? Who teaches it? DP University is NCCER-accredited, costs our apprentices nothing and is taught by experienced electricians in the classroom and in our hands-on lab. You apply for a job, and the training comes with it. See our open positions.
Step 2: Log your on-the-job hours
Your hours are your proof of experience, so treat them like money in the bank. You work under licensed electricians installing conduit, pulling wire, terminating devices and reading plans, and every hour counts toward your next license. In Texas, your 8,000 hours must be completed under a master electrician’s supervision before you can apply for a journeyman license.
If you are enrolled in DP University, we track your hours for you, so your record is ready when it is time to apply. Where you earn those hours matters too. Our apprentices build mission-critical data centers, large-scale semiconductor facilities and healthcare facilities, which is exactly the experience the industry is hiring for.
Step 3: Complete your classroom training
The field teaches you how; the classroom teaches you why. Alongside your hours, you study electrical theory, the National Electrical Code (NEC), blueprint reading, safety and math, usually through a nationally recognized curriculum such as NCCER that also prepares you for your licensing exam.
DP University follows the NCCER curriculum and adds safety, leadership and the professional skills that turn a good electrician into a leader on the job. Our instructors are experienced electricians, and the mentorship does not end when the class does.
Step 4: Keep learning
The NEC is updated every three years, and technology moves faster than that. Licensed electricians complete continuing education to stay current, and many can specialize in different things. At DP Electric, the learning does not stop at journeyman. As our founder Dan Puente puts it, the growth of our people is the growth of our company, so DP University keeps investing in you with leadership and technical training that takes electricians from the field to foreman and beyond.
Start your electrical career at DP Electric
We have been building careers across Arizona and Texas since 1990, and today we are 100% employee-owned with more than 1,000 team members. When you join DP Electric, you get paid on-the-job training from day one, a four-year NCCER-accredited apprenticeship through DP University at no cost, ownership through our ESOP and mentors who want to see you grow. You are not just starting a job. You are becoming an owner.
Ready to get started? See our open positions and apply today.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become an electrician?
Four to five years to reach journeyman level through a paid apprenticeship, including about 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus classroom instruction. Master takes additional years of experience.
Do I need a college degree to become an electrician?
No. A high school diploma or GED is the typical requirement. You learn the trade through a paid apprenticeship, so you skip the student debt.
Do electrician apprentices get paid?
Yes. Apprentices earn a wage while they train, and pay increases with skills and hours. At DP Electric, the DP University apprenticeship itself is also offered at no cost.
What is DP University?
DP University is DP Electric’s in-house training program, built around a four-year, NCCER-accredited electrical apprenticeship. Apprentices earn a paycheck on real projects while learning from experienced electricians in the classroom and in our hands-on lab, and the program offers safety, leadership and technical training throughout your career.
Do you need a license to be an electrician in Arizona?
No. Arizona licenses electrical contracting businesses through the Registrar of Contractors, not individual journeyman or master electricians, though some cities have their own requirements. We still encourage our apprentices to earn a journeyman license, because it protects you if Arizona’s rules change and travels with you if you ever move to a licensing state.
What are the electrician license requirements in Texas?
Texas licenses electricians through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). A journeyman license requires 8,000 supervised hours and an exam; a master license requires 12,000 hours, two years as a licensed journeyman and an exam. Licenses renew yearly with 4 hours of continuing education.
