Top 5 Best Electrician Schools in Colorado 2024 | How to Apply

Advertisment

If you’re looking for a credible school to train you to become an electrician in Colorado, then you should consider the list of schools, colleges, and universities we have listed for you in this guide and the requirements to apply.

This article fully reviews the best electrician schools in Colorado, including the requirements, cost & how to apply to these schools.

Advertisment

According to the report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is no better time to become an electrician in Colorado than now.

Colorado is a state in the USA with many job opportunities for electricians and expects a 28% increase between 2018 and 2028.

Advertisment

This industry’s growth can be traced to the increase in the use of electrically powered devices and machines in various commercial sectors, homes, and industries. 

To participate in economic growth, you must get the appropriate training and go through the appropriate licensing stages from apprentice to master electrician to join the trade.

So here in this guide, we have put together the best electrician schools, colleges, and universities in Colorado that will train you on becoming the best professional electrician in the state and the requirements to apply.

Advertisement

We have also answered the major questions to which you need to know the answers. They will help you start a career in the state effortlessly.

Let’s get started

ALSO READ: 7 Best Electrician Schools in Utah| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply

What is it Like to Work as an Electrician in Colorado?

Electricians in Colorado, like electricians in any other state in the USA, have increased employment opportunities. 

Most electricians own their businesses, some work in the construction field, and journeymen and master electricians are hired by electrical contractors, building contractors, and developers.

You can only own your own electrical business in Colorado if you’re an independent contractor. 

Whichever pathway or specialization you choose, you will certainly find a job in Colorado. And in Colorado, electricians earn quite handsome salaries per year.

What is the Job Outlook For Electricians in Colorado?

You can expect an increasing number of job opportunities in Colorado in the coming years for electricians. This is so because the electrical industry in Colorado is experiencing a stronger increase in the demand for electricians than in the other states of the USA.

If you choose to start your career as an electrician in the state, you can expect job opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2018 and 2028, electrician jobs in Colorado will increase by 28%.

This 28% increase in the availability of jobs will create about 2,570 jobs for electricians.

How Do I Become An Electrician In Colorado?

To become an electrician in Colorado, you must first obtain your license from the State Electrical Board. 

The Colorado Electrical Board is part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, which provides consumer license search services.

So whether you want to specialize as a journeyman, master, and independent contractor electrician or get your license for an apprenticeship, you must apply to the Colorado Electrical Board.

Before obtaining your license to practice as an electrician in Colorado, you must first study to become an electrician. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to become an electrician in Colorado;

  • Enroll in a two-year electrical technology degree program at an approved college or trade school.
  • Complete 6,000 hours of on-the-job work experience or enroll in an apprenticeship program that provides classroom instruction and practical training. 
  • Apply to get your license as a journeyman electrician if you’re an apprentice, or complete the requirements to become a master electrician and apply for the master license, which requires 288 hours of classroom time and 2-year training.
  • Apply for your license depending on which level or specialization of Electrician you want to bench on.
  • Renew your license biannually.

ALSO READ: 10 Best Electrician Schools in Minnesota| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply

Top 10 Electrician Schools in Colorado

First things first, the number of electrician schools and universities in Colorado is limited. 

So below, you will find a list of some of the schools in Colorado that have been accredited by the appropriate accreditation body to train students on their journey to become apprentices, journeymen or master electricians in the state.

#1. Ecotech Institute

  • Location: 1400 South Abilene Street, Aurora, Colorado 80012
  • Program: Electronics Technology (Associate Program)
  • Program Duration: Two Years

Ecotech Institute is one of Colorado’s pride institutions when it comes to training students on the best skills and ethics of the electrical field Industry.

The institute offers an Associate’s degree program in Electronics Technology on its Aurora campus, with a total student enrollment of 242.

As a college institution, classes focus on practical and on-the-job training that equips students all around in the electrical engineering profession. 

The Electronics Technology program at Ecotech Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools hence why it is listed as one of the beta schools and colleges with the best electrician program in Colorado. 

Tuition costs about $37,402 annually for all students.

VISIT SCHOOL

#2. Emily Griffith Technical College

  • Location: 1860 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado 80203
  • Program: Electrician Apprenticeship (Certificate Program)
  • Program Duration: Two Years

If you are looking for a school that focuses 100% on the practical application of the skills and training required in the electrical construction industry, then you should apply to Emily Griffith Technical College. 

Emily Griffith Technical College is one of the best electrical colleges, schools, and universities in Colorado, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education to train students to become professional electricians.

The Electrician Apprenticeship Certificate program is offered on the Denver campus, with a student population of about 4,144.

As a reputable college in Colorado, the school offers not only to trade school programs but also apprenticeships in all manner of trade.

Tuition annually for the Emily Griffith Technical College Electrician Apprenticeship program costs about $8,739 plus an additional $789 for learning materials.

VISIT SCHOOL

Read More: 10 Best Electrician Schools in Las Vegas| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply

#3. Pickens Technical College

  • Location: 500 Airport Blvd, Aurora, Colorado 80011-9307
  • Program: General Electronics Technology (Certificate Program)
  • Program Duration: Two Years

Pickens Technical College offers a certificate program in General Electronics Technology to train students in basic and advanced skills and expertise in general electronics.

Classes in general electronics technology are conducted at the Pickens Technical College campus in Aurora, with a student population of 1,184. 

The General Electronics Technology Certificate Program in Pickens Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, hence why it is recognized as one of the best colleges to train students on how to become an electrician in Colorado.

Annual tuition for the General Electronics Technology Certificate Program at Pickens Technical College costs about $4,510 for in-state students and $7,990 for out-of-state students, plus an additional $600 for books and supplies.

VISIT SCHOOL

#4. Red Rocks Community College

  • Location: 13300 W Sixth Ave, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1255
  • Program: Residential Construction Electrician (Certificate Program) and Construction Electrician (Associate Program)
  • Program Duration: Two Years

Red Rocks Community College offers two academic tracks to getting a degree or training to become an electrician in Colorado.

One track leads to a certificate of completion upon completion, and another leads to an associate degree. Both academic tracks hold classes at the college’s Lakewood Campus, with a total enrollment of 7,789 students.

The Red Rocks Community College electrician programs are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission

Annual tuition for the Red Rocks Community College electrician program is $4,008 for in-state students and $14,773 for out-of-state students, plus an additional $1,800, for books and supplies.

VISIT SCHOOL

Read More: 10 Best Electrician Schools in New York| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply

#5. Western Colorado Community College (WCCC) – Colorado Mesa University

  • Location: 2508 Blichmann Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81505
  • Program: Electric Lineworker
  • Program Duration: Two Years

Western Colorado Community College, an extension of Colorado Mesa University, is one of the best universities in Colorado that trains students professionally to become an electrician.

The Western Colorado Community College Electrical Lineworker program focuses on apprenticeship. During the classes, students are taught the basics of electricity, transformer connections, electric line work, and underground installation and repair. 

Unlike most electrician schools, colleges, and universities in Colorado, the Electric Lineworker program at the Western Colorado Community College teaches students in class and fieldwork.

VISIT SCHOOL

ALSO READ: 8 Best Electrician Schools in Oklahoma| Requirements, Cost & How to Apply

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Become an Electrician in Colorado

How Much Do Electricians Earn In Colorado?

Following the report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, electricians in Colorado, on average, earned about $55,050 annually. 

However, entry-level electrician salaries were at about $33,140, while experienced professionals earned about $78,580 in 2019. Contractors made an average of $96,580. 

What Is The Salary Structure Of Electricians In Colorado by Specialization?

Depending on what specialization in the electrical field industry you focus on, the salary structure or how much you earn may be slightly higher or lower. 

This means that some specializations in the electrical field industry earn a much higher income in Colorado than others.
Hers is a table showing how much Electricians earn in Colorado according to specialization.

Electrician Specialization
Mean Hourly Wage
Electricians– $26.47
Helpers–Electricians–$16.82
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
$29.77
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
$42.44
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers–$38.36

What Is The Salary Structure Of Electricians in Colorado by Region?

Depending on the Colorado region you live in, how much you earn as an electrician may be higher or lower than the state average.

It invariably means that some regions or cities in Colorado pay electricians a higher or lower salary than the estimated state average.

Understanding the average salary of electricians in the city will help you know which region of Colorado favors your job more in terms of compensation.

Here is a table showing the major cities in Colorado and how much electricians earn per hour.

Colorado City
Mean Hourly Wage
Boulder–$26.09
Colorado Springs–$24.27
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood–$26.23
Fort Collins–$27.74
Grand Junction–$28.63
Greeley–$26.20
Pueblo–$25.57

What Organizations Can An Electrician In Colorado Identify With?

Besides attending any of the best electrician schools, colleges, and universities in Colorado, you must identify with the major professional organizations around you once you get your license to practice in the state.

By identifying with the major organizations for electricians in Colorado, you get to meet people who are working in the same field as you, exchange professional ideas as well as make recommendations for jobs in the city and beyond.

Here are some of the major organizations you should identify with as an electrician in Colorado;

IBEW Local 12, Pueblo
IBEW Local 68, Denver
The IBEW Local 113, Colorado Springs
IBEW Local 111, Denver and Grand Junction
Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee (DJEATC)
Colorado Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (CSEJATC)
Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM)
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) – Rocky Mountain

References

Our Recommendation

<!–- /stk-start:posts/template –-><!–- /stk-end:post/template –->
Advertisment
You May Also Like