Trade Schools
Idaho is one of the U.S. states with the highest concentration of jobs for Electricians.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage reported by Idaho electricians was $52,180 as of May 2021.
Before being ready to work as an electrician, you need to complete some specialized training.
There are several different formats you can choose from.
Trade schools offer diploma or certificate programs that get you ready for entry-level employment in one year or less, while degree programs can take up to four years to complete.
Apprenticeships that combine on-the-job training with classroom education are also available and typically last four or five years.
To help you decide what format best meets your needs, on this page we have compiled information about the top electrician schools in Idaho.
1North Idaho College
About the School
North Idaho College offers a wide range of career training programs through its Workforce Training Center.
The programs prepare students for careers in in-demand industries.
Dual enrollment programs are also available at the college for high school students who want to earn college credit.
Courses Offered
The college’s Trades and Industry pathway includes the following programs:
- Electrical Continuing Education- this program covers the purpose of grounding as well as enclosure grounding, methods of grounding, bonding of services, and more
- Programmable Logic Controllers- this program is designed to prepare maintenance personnel to diagnose and repair faults in PLC-controlled production equipment
- Safety- courses that cover health and safety issues: Flagger Certification, Forklift Operator Certification, Scissor Lift Certification, MSHA Mine Safety Training, Heatsaver First Aid, Basic Life Support, and other courses are available.
- And more
An Electrical Continuing Education program is also available and costs $125.
Continuing Education classes are designed for workers who want to keep up with the latest advancements in their field.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 W. Garden Ave. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
- Phone: (208) 769-3300 | (877) 404-4536
- Website: https://www.nic.edu
2College of Eastern Idaho
About the School
Idaho’s newest comprehensive community college, College of Eastern Idaho offers associate of arts and science degrees.
Students also have the option of transferring general education credits.
Early college programs are also offered for high school students.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Intermediate Technical Certificate in the field of Energy Systems Technology.
This program includes classes in Electronics Theory and hands-on labs, applied mathematics, and a chosen general education course.
The first year is provided at the college’s Idaho Falls campus.
The second year takes place at Idaho State University.
Students have the opportunity to get hands-on experience on many topics in the energy world.
They practice in a live electrical lab.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9:1
The Energy Systems Technology teaches students how to:
- Set up, operate, and perform maintenance on electrical and mechanical systems
- Use test equipment to configure, troubleshoot and repair circuits
- Work safely
- Design, troubleshoot, and document circuits for complex motor controls
- And many other skills
Contact Information
- Address: 1600 S 25th E, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
- Phone: (208) 524-3000
- Website: https://www.cei.edu
3College of Western Idaho
About the School
College of Western Idaho offers programs and classes that cover a variety of different fields of interest.
Career and technical education as well as dual credit programs are available.
Career programs are designed for students who want to seek job opportunities after graduation while dual credit is designed for high school students who want to earn college credit.
Tuition is $139 per credit hour for in-district Idaho residents.
College of Western Idaho is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes programs on:
- Certified Electronics Tech- for this program students are recommended to either complete a two-year electronics or have equivalent work experience
- DC Electrical Troubleshooting- 12 hours of in-class and hands-on lab time
- Electrical Apprenticeship- this four-year program includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience and 576 hours of classroom training
- Electrical Upgrade Training- classes designed for students who want to add skills, prepare for testing, and fulfill annual training requirements for their electrical license
- Engineering- an A.S. degree program
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5500 E. Opportunity Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
- Phone: 208.562.3000
- Website: https://cwi.edu
4College of Southern Idaho
About the School
College of Southern Idaho offers educational programs for students who want to earn a degree or college credit and for those who want to learn a trade or get occupational training.
The college also offers students the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school.
College of Southern Idaho is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes programs such as:
- Applied Technology and Apprenticeship- a program that leads to an Associate of Applied Science
- Automation Engineering Technology- a program that teaches students about PLCs, electronics, circuits, and a variety of other topics and includes the following degrees and certificates:
- Basic Technical Certificate
- Associate of Applied Science
- Intermediate Technical Certificate
- Renewable Energy Systems Technology- students enrolled in this Associate of Applied Science program learn about industrial safety, industrial electricity, electric motors, programmable logic controllers, troubleshooting solar and wind energy systems, and a variety of other topics.
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 315 Falls Ave, PO Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303
- Phone: (208) 732-9554 (Main Campus)
- Website: https://www.csi.edu
5Northwest Lineman College
About the School
Northwest Lineman College offers training programs for students who want to start rewarding careers in the fields of electric power, telecommunications, and natural gas.
The college has campuses in Idaho, California, Texas, and Florida.
Its Idaho campus includes a 7,200 square feet lab, a 25-acre field-training area, and 20,000 square feet of classroom space.
Courses Offered
The campus is home to the Electrical Lineworker program.
This program teaches students how to safely construct, maintain and operate a power grid, how to work in elevated positions, how to operate bucket trucks and digger derricks, and many other skills.
To qualify for admission, applicants have to meet some requirements, including:
- Being 18 years of age or older by the start of the term
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Be eligible for a Class A CDL license
Students also graduate with the following certifications:
- First Aid
- CPR
- Climbing
- Pole-top Rescue
- Metering Certification
- Aerial-lift Rescue
- Smart Grid and Electrical Devices- an Optional Certification
- Crane Operator Certification- Optional
- And more
The program takes place in a state-of-the-art classroom and lab facilities.
Tuition is $15,950 for the Idaho program.
This includes tuition, application fee, lab fee, tools, and Class A CDL with Air Brakes Endorsement.
Northwest Lineman College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Contact Information
- Address: 7600 S Meridian Rd, Meridian, ID 83642
- Phone: 888-546-3967
- Website: https://lineman.edu
6Southwest Idaho Electrical Training Center
About the School
Southwest Idaho Electrical Training Center prepares students for careers in electrical work.
The apprenticeship program is offered jointly by the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Students have the opportunity to earn wages and benefits while learning the skills for a career in a rewarding and challenging trade.
The salary starts at 49 percent of the Journeyworker’s rate and increases gradually until it reaches 84 percent of the Journeyworker’s rate after completing more than 6,500 hours of on-the-job training.
Applications can be submitted for $30.
Courses Offered
There are three specialties available for electricians:
- Industrial- workers in the industrial field focus mostly on electrical construction work in commercial and industrial settings
- Commercial- this path focuses on electrical work for transmission and distribution of electrical energy
- Residential- workers in this path perform electrical construction work in homes
Contact Information
- Address: 12302 W. Explorer Dr. Suite 130 Boise, Idaho 83713
- Phone: 208-384-0538
- Website: https://idahoelectricalapprenticeship.org
7Eastern Idaho Electrical JATC
About the School
Eastern Idaho Electrical JATC provides a Union Electricians Apprenticeship Program.
The apprenticeship offers the opportunity to earn wages and benefits while learning the skills needed for this trade.
Continuing Education classes are also available for journey workers.
The apprenticeship includes a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with 960 hours of related classroom instruction.
The program has been dually recognized by the American Council on Education which recommends that 52 semester hours can be used towards an associate degree in applied science or bachelors in applied technology.
During the first term, apprentices earn 50 percent of a Journworker’s salary.
Apprentices receive salary increases gradually, as they advance in their training.
After completing more than 6,500 hours of on-the-job training the salary reaches 80 percent of a Journeyworker’s wage.
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be a high school graduate or have GED
- Have completed a full credit of high school or one post-high school algebra credit with a passing score
- Hold a valid driver’s license
Contact Information
- Address: 8450 South 5th Ave. Pocatello, ID 83204
- Phone: (208) 232-4300
- Website: https://www.eijatc.org
8Independent Electrical Contractors
About the School
The Independent Electrical Contractors of Idaho offers a nationally recognized electrical apprenticeship program.
Continuing education courses are also available throughout the year for licensed workers who want to keep up with their training.
The school’s instructors are certified Journeymen or Master Electricians with extensive field knowledge and educational backgrounds.
The training location is located in Boise, Idaho.
Courses Offered
To qualify for an apprentice position, applicants have to be at least 16 years of age and have earned a high school diploma or equivalent.
High school classes in mathematics, physics, electricity, mechanical drawing, and shop can also prove helpful.
Applicants need to secure an electrical apprenticeship job.
Applicants also need to register with the Electrical Bureau.
A Registration form can be found online and the application fee is $50.
The IEC Electrical Apprenticeship Training Program is four-year-long.
Contact Information
- Address: 5944 W Victory RD Boise, ID 83709
- Phone: (208) 608-4662
- Website: https://iecidaho.com
9Lewis Clark State College
About the School
Lewis Clark State College provides more than 130 programs that lead to degrees or certificates, depending on the pathway.
LCSC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Electrical Apprenticeship program that leads to an Associate Degree.
Students need to complete 16-18 credits in General Education classes and additional 64 credits in electrical-based theories and apprenticeship work.
Electricity-related classes are also included in the Auto Mechanics Technology pathway-which includes courses on:
- Automatic Transmission Repair/Diagnosis
- Electrical
- Safety
- Applied Algebra and More
The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology Associate in Applied Science program includes HVAC-specific classes, as well as training in basic electricity, electric motors, and general maintenance.
An Industrial Electronics pathway is also available at the college and covers classes such as:
- Basic DC Circuit Theory
- Digital Electronics
- Advanced Electrical Principles
- AC Circuit Analysis
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 500 8th Avenue, Lewiston, Idaho 83501
- Phone: 208-792-5272
- Website: https://www.lcsc.edu
10Boise State University
About the School
Boise State University offers academic programs in a wide range of fields.
Boise State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
The estimated full-time tuition cost for resident students who take between 12-16 credits is $8,364 for the 2023-2024 year.
Scholarships are available for qualifying students.
This can reduce the total cost by up to $3,000 per year for four years.
Scholarships require full-time enrollment of at least 12 credits.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Electrical Engineering pathway.
This program prepares students to find solutions to complex and technical questions about the manufacture and implementation of electrical and electronic equipment.
Students can choose between bachelor’s, minor, master’s, doctorate, and certificate degree options.
The program includes classes such as:
- Writing and Rhetoric
- Calculus
- Intro to Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Introduction to Electric Circuits
- Introduction to Electronic Materials
- Microprocessors
- Signals and Systems
- And more
The program includes 126 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725
- Phone: (208) 426-1000
- Website: https://www.boisestate.edu
Regional Salary in Idaho
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 2,250 | $55,130 | $26.51 | $77,320 | $38,630 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 520 | $54,390 | $26.15 | $77,030 | $37,780 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 410 | $57,310 | $27.55 | $90,960 | $37,560 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 200 | $82,460 | $39.64 | $144,830 | $44,260 |
| Pocatello, ID | 170 | $50,460 | $24.26 | $75,410 | $37,570 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 270 | $51,760 | $24.89 | $75,230 | $37,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Idaho is home to many trade schools and community colleges that offer training programs for those who want to start careers as electricians.
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your schedule, budget, and learning style.
