Short answer: to become an electrician in Colorado, register as an apprentice with the State Electrical Board and work under a licensed electrician; no experience is needed to start. After 4,000 residential hours in at least 2 years you can test for a residential wireman license, and after 8,000 hours in at least 4 years plus 288 classroom hours, for a journeyman license. You get there through a union JATC (Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo), an open-shop program such as IEC Rocky Mountain or CITC, or a job with any registered electrical contractor. The PSI license exam has used the 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026 and costs US$78.
Every fact below comes from the state agency or the program’s own page, checked October 9, 2026.
Colorado quick facts
| Quick fact | Colorado answer (checked October 9, 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | No state minimum on DORA’s pages. Programs set their own: Colorado Springs and Emily Griffith require 18; Pueblo takes applications at 17 and indentures at 18. | Colorado Springs, Emily Griffith, Pueblo |
| Experience to start | None. Register as an apprentice before you do electrical work. | source |
| Residential wireman | 4,000 residential hours in at least 2 years | source |
| Journeyman | 8,000 hours in at least 4 years (2,000 commercial or industrial) plus 288 classroom hours | source |
| Master electrician | 10,000 hours in at least 5 years, or a DORA degree or school option | source |
| License exam | PSI, 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026. 90 scored questions in 240 minutes, 70% (63) to pass, plus up to 10 unscored questions (7 for residential wireman) with 30 extra minutes. PSI supplies the code book, formula page and an online calculator. | PSI bulletin, updated June 18, 2026 |
| Exam fee | US$78, retest US$73 | PSI bulletin |
| Supervision | Direct, by a licensed Colorado electrician, no more than 3 apprentices each | C.R.S. 12-115-115(1) |
| Renewal | Every 3 years on September 30, 24 hours of continuing education | source, source |
| Electrician pay | BLS median US$29.92 an hour, US$62,230 a year (May 2025) | BLS |
Where to start, by region
| If you live in | Start here | Next window (as of October 9, 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver metro, Front Range north, mountain counties and northeast plains (Local 68 includes Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, Weld, Eagle, Summit, Grand, Logan, Yuma and more) | Denver JEATC (union), IEC Rocky Mountain or CITC (open shop), or any registered contractor | Denver JEATC reopens February 1, 2027. IECRM enrolls new students mid-June to mid-July. | county list, Denver, IECRM, CITC |
| Colorado Springs area (El Paso, Teller, Park, Elbert, Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Lincoln) | Colorado Springs Electrical JATC (IBEW 113) | Reopens January 1, 2027, open to June 30 | source |
| Southern Colorado (Pueblo, Fremont, Otero, Alamosa, Las Animas and 14 more counties) | Pueblo Electrical JATC (IBEW 12) | Enrolling now | source |
| Western Slope (Grand Junction) | IBEW 111’s Grand Junction office, or IECRM live online | No application page published. Call the office. | IBEW 111, IECRM |
| Anywhere in Colorado | Any company with an active Electrical Contractor registration. Check a company on DORA’s Verify a License page; search open registered apprenticeships on the US Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Job Finder. | Any time | source, DORA lookup, DOL finder |
Step by step
- Pick your route and check the window. Pueblo’s JATC is enrolling now. Colorado Springs reopens January 1, 2027. Denver reopens February 1, 2027. IECRM enrolls new students mid-June to mid-July. For CITC or a contractor job, contact them directly. source, IECRM
- Gather your papers. Each program has its own list:
- Denver JEATC: a current, valid driver’s license (out of state is fine; state ID cards and instruction permits are not accepted), a second ID (Social Security card, birth certificate or passport), a diploma or transcript showing your graduation date, and a DD-214 if you served. After the JATC approves your account, you pay the US$35 fee online. For the GAN Personal Experience Form, have pay stubs or W-2s, transcripts, letters of recommendation and a resume ready. Denver, FAQ
- Colorado Springs: age 18 at selection, a diploma or GED, transcripts showing one full year of high school algebra passed, proof of age, a valid Colorado driver’s license, a Social Security card, a signed statement that you can do electrical construction work, and a DD-214 if you served. Selected applicants take a physical and drug screen. Colorado Springs
- Pueblo: a driver’s license, birth certificate, Social Security card, diploma or GED, official transcripts with one full algebra credit, and a DD-214 if you served, all in one email to the JATC. Pueblo
- Take the program’s test. Denver uses the GAN test and a Personal Experience Form due within 2 weeks. Colorado Springs and Pueblo use an algebra and reading aptitude test; Pueblo then ranks applicants after an oral interview. source
- Get hired and registered. Work for a company with an active Electrical Contractor registration. Create your apprentice record online; the contractor completes the registration within 30 days. Carry your card at work. Your number stays the same if you change jobs. source
- Log hours under supervision. A licensed electrician directly supervises you, with no more than three apprentices each. Your contractor reports your hours and training to the Board every January 1. source
- Finish 288 classroom hours (needed for journeyman) through a JATC, IECRM, CITC or a college, and keep the transcript. source
- Pass the PSI exam, then apply. Since August 1, 2026 the exam follows the 2026 NEC; PSI supplies the code book and a formula page, and the 2023 book is available on request until December 1, 2026. You book and pay with PSI directly; the bulletin lists no Board approval step. After you pass, file your license application with DORA, with your hours on the Board’s Affidavit of Experience form. An ITIN is accepted in place of a Social Security Number. PSI bulletin, updated June 18, 2026, source
- Renew every 3 years with 24 hours of continuing education, starting after your first renewal. source
Routes compared
Union JATC
Apply in the window, pass the test, then start a paid program (Denver: 4 years). Denver uses GAN; Colorado Springs and Pueblo use algebra and reading.
Open shop
IEC Rocky Mountain runs a 4-year evening program at three Colorado sites and online. CITC runs weekly night classes and helps you find a sponsor.
Start working now
No experience is needed to register. Any registered electrical contractor can hire and register you.
| Route | Who it fits | Test to get in | Cost to start | Years | Pay while learning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union JATC, Denver (Denver JEATC, IBEW 68) | Local 68 counties include Denver, Boulder, Larimer, Weld, the mountain counties and the northeast plains. state sheet | GAN test (5 sections) plus a Personal Experience Form | US$35 application. Optional GAN study guide US$20. source | 4 source | Starts at US$22.70 an hour (undated on the program page) source |
| Union JATC, Colorado Springs or Pueblo (IBEW 113, IBEW 12) | El Paso, Teller and nearby counties; Pueblo and 18 more southeastern counties | Aptitude test of algebra and reading. Pueblo adds an oral interview. | Colorado Springs charges an application fee (amount not published). source | At least 4 for a journeyman license source | Pueblo starts at 50% of journeyman scale (undated) source |
| Open-shop registered apprenticeship (IEC Rocky Mountain, CITC) | People who want a non-union employer. IECRM keeps a hire list; CITC helps you find a sponsor. | IECRM lists a math entrance exam. CITC starts with a consultation. | IECRM tuition US$605 to US$930 per semester, books extra (May 2026). IECRM | IECRM 4, CITC 3 to 4, class once a week CITC | Paid by your employer |
| Hire on with any registered electrical contractor | Career changers who want to start working now | None required by the state. No experience needed. source | State apprentice registration fee (DORA does not publish the amount online). Classroom tuition later. | 2 for residential wireman, 4 for journeyman source | Paid by your employer source |
Colorado license rules
| Category | Hours | Classroom | Exam | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered apprentice | None to start. Register before you do electrical work; your employer files within 30 days. | Not required to register | None | A fee is set in state law. DORA does not post the amount online, so check with DORA. | source, source, C.R.S. 12-115-117 |
| Residential wireman | 4,000 hours of residential-only work in no less than 2 years, or at least 2 years of accredited training. Lets you work unsupervised on one- to four-family dwellings. | Accredited training can replace the hours | PSI, 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026. 90 scored items in 240 minutes, 70% (63) to pass, plus up to 7 unscored items with 30 extra minutes. | Exam US$78, retest US$73. License application fee not posted by DORA. | source, source, scope, PSI bulletin |
| Journeyman electrician | 8,000 hours in no less than 4 years, 2,000 of them commercial or industrial | 288 hours within the last 8 years, proven by transcript. Older training can still count if you add at least 4 hours on the current or previous NEC. | PSI, 2026 NEC. 90 scored items in 240 minutes, 70% (63) to pass, plus up to 10 unscored items with 30 extra minutes. | Exam US$78, retest US$73. License application fee not posted by DORA. | source, C.R.S. 12-115-110, PSI bulletin |
| Master electrician | Meet one of four: (1) 10,000 hours in no less than 5 years; (2) an accredited bachelor’s degree in the electrical field DORA names, plus 2,000 construction hours in no less than 1 year; (3) an electrical trade school or community college diploma plus 8,000 hours in no less than 4 years; (4) the journeyman requirements plus 2,000 more hours in no less than 1 year. Some hours must be planning and layout, and some supervision while holding a journeyman license; supervision hours are not counted twice. You cannot go from apprentice or residential wireman straight to master on experience. | PSI, 2026 NEC. 90 scored items in 240 minutes, 70% (63) to pass, plus up to 10 unscored items with 30 extra minutes. | Exam US$78, retest US$73 | source, PSI bulletin | |
| Electrical contractor | The company must hold or employ a licensed master electrician as its responsible individual. That master may be responsible for one company only, and the master and owner both sign an Acknowledgment of Responsibility. Proof of workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance compliance is required. | source | |||
| Photovoltaic installer (SB25-165) | Photovoltaic installer companies must register with the Board by December 31, 2026. DORA says applications open in late 2026. | source | |||
| Supervision | Direct supervision by a licensed Colorado electrician. One electrician may supervise no more than 3 apprentices on a job site. | source, C.R.S. 12-115-115(1) | |||
| School credit | Graduates of a board-approved community college or trade school program get 1 year of work experience credit. | C.R.S. 12-115-110(2)(b) | |||
| Renewal | Licenses expire September 30 every 3 years | 24 hours of continuing education per period. Not required until after your first renewal if you were licensed by exam. | source, source | ||
| Reciprocity | Journeyman only, under NERA rules: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming. You need a current journeyman or master certificate that lets you work as a journeyman there, earned by passing that state’s exam (not grandfathered), and held at least 1 year. Colorado then issues without a written exam. | source | |||
| Endorsement (any license type) | Your license must be active, issued and regulated by a state, and earned by testing on the NEC edition Colorado currently uses. The issuing board completes a Verification of Licensure form. | source |
What the PSI exam covers (scored questions per area)
| Area | Residential wireman | Journeyman |
|---|---|---|
| General Electrical Knowledge | 17 | 11 |
| Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits | 18 | 9 |
| Grounding and Bonding | 13 | 14 |
| Overcurrent Protection | 5 | 6 |
| Conductors and Cables | 9 | 8 |
| Raceways and Boxes | 9 | 5 |
| Special Occupancies | Not listed | 5 |
| Special Equipment | 5 | 6 |
| Electrical Devices | 8 | 5 |
| Motors | Not listed | 6 |
| Transformers | Not listed | 4 |
| Photovoltaics | Not listed | 2 |
| Electrical Calculations | 6 | 9 |
| Total scored | 90 PSI | 90 PSI |
PSI supplies an unmarked 2026 NEC and a formula page (the 2023 book on request until December 1, 2026) and an online calculator. You may not bring your own code book or notes. PSI bulletin, updated June 18, 2026
What changes January 1, 2027. Under the 2025 law HB25-1284, if you are in a registered apprenticeship program, a contractor may register you only if that program trains you for the electrician occupation (SOC 47-2111). The rule does not apply if your training comes directly from your contractor or from a program that is not a registered apprenticeship. The 1:3 supervision ratio stays the same. C.R.S. 12-115-115(3.5), HB25-1284
An apprentice who has been registered at least 6 years must take the journeyman exam at least every 3 years until passing. Passing does not replace the rest: the Board issues a journeyman license only once all other journeyman requirements are met. C.R.S. 12-115-115(4)
Programs and status on October 9, 2026
| Program | Metro | Test used | Status on Oct 9, 2026 | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver JEATC (IBEW 68 and NECA) | Local 68 counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Weld and Yuma | GAN: Paper Folding, Numerical Computation, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mechanical Reasoning. Personal Experience Form due within 2 weeks of GAN’s email. | Closed Reopens February 1, 2027. Windows: February 1 to March 31 and August 1 to September 30. | source, FAQ |
| Colorado Springs Electrical JATC (IBEW 113) | Cheyenne, Elbert, El Paso, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Park, Teller counties | electrical training ALLIANCE aptitude test: algebra and reading, given twice a month on Wednesdays | Closed Reopens January 1, 2027. Window: January 1 to June 30. | source, FAQ |
| Pueblo Electrical JATC (IBEW 12) | Pueblo, Fremont, Otero, Alamosa, Las Animas and 14 more counties | Aptitude test: Algebra and Functions plus Reading Comprehension, about 2.5 hours. Score at least 4 of 9 for the oral interview. Ranked list kept 1 year. | Open Homepage says now enrolling. Email your documents to start. | source, FAQ |
| CITC (open shop) | Wheat Ridge, Denver metro | Consultation. 576 classroom hours and 8,000 on-the-job hours. | Not stated. Contact CITC. | source |
| ABC Rocky Mountain | Denver | Sends Colorado craft training to CITC | No Colorado electrical apprenticeship of its own | source |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | Denver | Classes for registered apprenticeships run with union and trade partners. 18 or older, diploma or GED, documented algebra, two state IDs. | Contact the apprenticeship team | source |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood, Arvada | 288 Hour Journeyman License Certificate, 20 credits | Adult electrical program being refreshed and redesigned | source |
| Western Slope (IBEW 111) | Grand Junction | Not published | The state’s 2025 contribution-rate sheet lists a Grand Junction electrical apprenticeship. No application page found. Contact IBEW 111’s Grand Junction office. | state sheet, IBEW 111 |
| IEC Rocky Mountain (open shop) | Northglenn, Fort Collins, South Denver (Littleton), Cheyenne WY, live online | 4-year program recognized by Apprenticeship Colorado and the US DOL. Class once a week, 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Site lists a math entrance exam. | New students enroll mid-June to mid-July each year and start in August. A late start exists for first-year students. Tuition US$605 to US$930 per semester, books extra (IECRM FAQ, May 2026). Confirm the current window with IECRM. | IECRM FAQ |
Denver JEATC rules to know before applying: it does not permit marijuana use, and it reviews only felonies within the last seven years. source
IECRM’s live site blocked automated reading on October 9, 2026, so its details come from its own FAQ as published May 1, 2026. Program names belong to their owners. The program’s own page is always the final word.
Looking for electrician jobs in Colorado?
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Pay from official sources
| Who | First-year apprentice | Journeyman | Date of figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver JEATC (IBEW 68) | US$22.70 an hour to start. US$37.01 an hour when you finish the program. | US$49.35 an hour (current journeyman wage) | Undated on the program page (read October 9, 2026) | JATC |
| Pueblo JATC (IBEW 12) | 50% of journeyman scale (about US$15.95) | US$31.90 an hour | Undated on the program page. Confirm with the JATC. | JATC |
| Colorado Springs (IBEW 113) | Not published | Not published | Call the union hall at (719) 633-3872 | IBEW 113 |
| All Colorado electricians, federal survey (BLS OEWS) | 10th percentile US$21.88 | Median US$29.92 an hour (US$62,230 a year), mean US$31.88 | May 2025 OEWS | BLS hourly, BLS annual |
| Metro medians, federal survey (BLS OEWS) | Denver US$30.36, Fort Collins US$29.52, Colorado Springs US$28.47 | May 2025 OEWS | Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs |
JATC figures are from each program’s own page and carry no effective date there. BLS figures are a federal survey of all electricians at every experience level, not an apprentice rate. The Pueblo apprentice figure is our calculation from the stated 50%.
Costs and timeline
| Item | Paid to | Cost or time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State apprentice registration | State (DORA) | Fee set in law. Amount not posted by DORA. | C.R.S. 12-115-117 |
| Denver JEATC application | Program | US$35, non-refundable, credit card only | source |
| GAN study guide (Denver, optional) | Program | US$20 | source |
| PSI license exam | PSI (state exam vendor) | US$78, retest US$73. Fee valid one year from payment. | PSI bulletin |
| 288 classroom hours | School or program | Tuition depends on the program. Red Rocks offers it as a 20-credit certificate. | source |
| IECRM tuition (open shop) | School | US$605 to US$930 per semester, 2 semesters a year, books extra (May 2026) | IECRM FAQ |
| License application | State (DORA) | Fee set in law. Amount not posted by DORA. | source |
| Fastest residential wireman | 2 years and 4,000 residential hours | source | |
| Fastest journeyman | 4 years and 8,000 hours plus 288 classroom hours. 1 year of credit for an approved school graduate. | source, C.R.S. | |
| Typical apprenticeship | 4 to 6 years (state guide). Denver JEATC is 4 years. | source, source | |
| Next union windows | Pueblo now. Colorado Springs January 1, 2027. Denver February 1, 2027. | source, source, source |
Pueblo and Colorado Springs test algebra and reading. Practice both, timed, for free.
U.S. Edition: 1,300 math and 216 reading questions, 6 timed simulations, interview prep and a guide to 49 JATCs. One payment, files yours to keep.
The practice and the kit are Tsai Electro’s own prep products. They are not affiliated with IBEW, NECA, GAN, any JATC or the Colorado State Electrical Board.
See which test each JATC uses, state by state and first-year IBEW apprentice pay by local.
Questions people ask
Do I have to register with the state before my first day as an electrical apprentice in Colorado?
Yes. DORA expects every apprentice to be registered before doing electrical work, and the employer must complete the registration within 30 days. You create your own apprentice record online and your contractor attaches it to its registration.
How long does it take to get an electrician license in Colorado?
At least 2 years for a residential wireman license (4,000 residential hours). At least 4 years for a journeyman license (8,000 hours, 2,000 of them commercial or industrial, plus 288 classroom hours). A master license takes 10,000 hours in at least 5 years, or one of DORA’s degree or school options.
What is the Colorado electrician license exam?
It is a PSI exam on the 2026 NEC (since August 1, 2026): 90 scored questions in 240 minutes, and you need 70% (63 correct) to pass. Up to 10 unscored questions (7 for residential wireman) add 30 minutes. Grounding and bonding is the largest journeyman area at 14 questions. It costs US$78, or US$73 for a retest. PSI supplies the code book, formula page and an online calculator; you cannot bring your own book. The 2023 book is available on request until December 1, 2026 (PSI bulletin updated June 18, 2026).
How many apprentices can one electrician supervise in Colorado?
Three. A licensed electrician may directly supervise no more than three apprentices on a job site (C.R.S. 12-115-115(1)). HB25-1284, which takes effect January 1, 2027, did not change this ratio.
What test does the Denver electrical apprenticeship use?
The GAN test. The Denver JEATC (IBEW 68) uses five GAN sections plus a Personal Experience Form due within 2 weeks, and applications reopen February 1, 2027. Colorado Springs and Pueblo use an algebra and reading aptitude test.
How much does an electrical apprentice make in Colorado?
US$22.70 an hour to start at the Denver JEATC, rising to US$37.01 when you finish the program; its current journeyman wage is US$49.35. None of these is dated on the program page. Pueblo starts at 50% of journeyman scale. Across all Colorado electricians, the BLS median was US$29.92 an hour (US$62,230 a year) in May 2025.
Will marijuana use or a felony keep me out of the Denver JATC?
Marijuana use, yes: the Denver JEATC does not permit it. A felony, not automatically: it reviews only felonies within the last seven years.
Change log
October 9, 2026: page published; every fact from DORA, Colorado statute, PSI or the program’s own page, checked October 9, 2026. October 9, 2026, correction: the PSI exam follows the 2026 NEC since August 1, 2026 (not the 2023 NEC); added IEC Rocky Mountain details, master and contractor rules, the older-training credit and the Denver finish rate. Round 2 (October 9, 2026): added the four master paths, NERA reciprocity conditions and endorsement, the one-company contractor rule, photovoltaic installer registration, each JATC’s document list, the full Local 68 county list, PSI unscored items, calculator and content outline, and the BLS annual median. Program windows are re-checked monthly; next check November 2026. Spot an error? Email hello@tsaielectro.com and we correct it within 48 hours.
