Trade Schools
Oregon is the third highest-paying U.S. state for electricians.
According to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage reported by electricians in Oregon was $81,200 as of May 2021, higher than the national average for this profession.
If you’re passionate about electricity and you’d like to start a career that allows you to combine critical thinking, troubleshooting skills, and physical strength, the electrician trade can be a good match.
Before being ready to work independently as a Journey-Level Electrician, you have to complete some post-secondary training program and gain some work experience.
There are plenty of training options available in Oregon and on this page, we will compile information about some of the best of them.
1NECA/IBEW Electrical Training Center
About the School
NECA/IBEW Electrical Training Center prepares students for careers that are financially rewarding and personally satisfying.
Students learn in a technologically advanced facility the skills needed for careers as skilled and productive electricians.
An aptitude test and an interview are part of the admissions process.
Prospective students are also required to complete a Basic Skills Class.
Courses Offered
The following apprenticeship programs are available:
- Inside Electrician- a program that includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training
- Limited Energy-A Technician- this program requires 6,000 hours of on-the-job training
- Limited Residential Electrician- a program that includes 4,000 hours of on-the-job training.
During the training period, apprentices earn a salary.
The wage for Inside Electrician Apprentices starts at 40 percent of the journeyman wage.
Trainees receive gradual increases after each 1,000-1,500 hours of training completed.
After completing 6,500 hours of work, apprentices earn 85 percent of the journeyman wage- which translated into $45.77 per hour.
Contact Information
- Address: 16021 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230
- Phone: 503-262-9991
- Website: https://nietc.org
2NW College of Construction
About the School
NW College of Construction provides apprenticeship training programs approved by the Oregon State Apprenticeship Training Council and overseen by the Bureau of Labor and Industries, the Washington State Apprenticeship Training Council, and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.
NW College of Construction uses a curriculum developed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research, a not-for-profit education foundation.
Courses Offered
The college offers apprenticeships in carpentry, concrete finishing, laborers, HVAC technicians, sign hangers, and other construction trades.
The sign hangers program includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom instruction per year.
The program can be completed in four years and leads to a Limited Journeyman Sign Electrician license.
Apprenticeship applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Proof of high school graduation or GED equivalent is also required.
Applicants must have completed at least one year of high school pre-algebra or higher mathematics with a grade of “C” or higher or take an equivalent community college placement test.
Contact Information
- Address: 8111 NE Holman St. Portland, OR 97218
- Phone: 503.256.7300
- Website: https://nwcoc.com
3Clatsop Community College
About the School
Clatsop Community College offers a variety of academic programs that lead to associate in applied science degrees and certificates.
The college has three campuses: Lexington, MERTS in Astoria, and the South County campus in Seaside.
Classes are also available at locations in Warrenton, Knappa, Clatskanie, Rainier, and Westport.
The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
In-state tuition at Clatsop Community College is $105 per credit.
Starting with the winter of 2023, tuition will become $112 per credit.
To qualify for admission, applicants must be at least 16 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.
Financial aid is available for qualifying students.
Courses Offered
An electrical trades apprenticeship approved by the Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Building Codes is available at the college.
The Associate of Applied Science degree program is designed for students who want to work beyond the level of journeyman in industrial trade and community roles.
Contact Information
- Address: 1651 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103
- Phone: (503) 338-2411
- Website: https://www.clatsopcc.edu
4Institute of Technology
About the School
The Institute of Technology provides vocational education in Salem, Oregon.
The programs are taught by instructors with experience in their field.
Training programs are available in Clovis, Modesto, and Redding, California as well.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
The Institute of Technology is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Industrial Maintenance and Automated Technology program.
This program costs $20,830- which includes fees, books, and supplies.
This curriculum focuses on Electricity, Industrial fluid distribution systems, Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Procedures and mechanical and electrical applications, and Safety, among other related topics.
A hybrid Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program is also available- this program was designed to provide hands-on training and a flexible schedule.
Contact Information
- Address: 4700 Silverton Road Northeast, Salem, OR 97305
- Phone: 503.363.9001
- Website: https://www.iot.edu
5Chemeketa Community College
About the School
Chemeketa Community College provides programs for students who want to transfer to a university, for those who want to prepare for a new career, and for high school students who want to earn college credit.
Tuition for Oregon and border state students is $136 per credit (this includes $99 for tuition and $37 for a universal fee).
The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
Chemeketa Community College provides an Electronics pathway.
This program is designed to prepare students for technology-based careers.
The curriculum also provides training for those who already work in the field and want to upgrade their skills.
Students enrolled in this program learn a variety of skills, including:
- Professional and environmental safety practices
- Use of standard terminology
- Use of equipment and procedures
- Skills in system performance
- Solving technology problems
- Interpreting schematics, bulletins, and manuals
The following programs are available:
- Electronics Engineering Technician
- Industrial Electronics Technician
- Renewable Energy Management
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503.399.5000
- Website: https://www.chemeketa.edu
6Umpqua Community College
About the School
Umpqua Community College offers a variety of training programs designed to prepare students for employment in a wide range of industries.
The college provides programs that lead to Associate in Applied Science degrees and Certificates of Completion.
Tuition is $109 per credit for Oregon residents.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
The college offers a variety of degrees and certificate programs designed to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities in the lab and the real world.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Electrician apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships are designed for students who are sponsored by an employer.
The apprenticeship agreement combines on-the-job experience with classroom training for four years.
Students have to complete 144 hours of related classroom training per year.
The following electrician paths are available: Manufacturing Plant Electrician, Limited Maintenance, Electrician, Electrician: AAS & Certificate, and Limited Electrician: Certificate.
To qualify for admission, students must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school degree or GED equivalent.
One year of high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra course with a minimum grade of “C” is also required.
Contact Information
- Address: 1140 Umpqua College Rd., Roseburg, OR 97470
- Phone: 541-440-4600
- Website: https://umpqua.edu
7Crane Lane Electrical Training Center
About the School
Crane Lane Electrical Training Center offers training programs for apprentices and journey electricians.
A pre-apprenticeship program is also available.
This program includes 120 hours of combined classroom and hands-on electrical training.
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have a high school diploma with a minimum 2.0 GPA or GED with a minimum score of 255 pre-2002, 2,550 if obtained between 2002 and 2014, and 600 if obtained after 2014.
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Having completed one year of Algebra II or higher with a C grade or better or Math 60 at a community college, or Placement at Math 65
- Having completed the NCRC test with at least 6 in Math, 6 in Workplace Documents, and 4 in Graphic Literacy
The test is usually administered weekly at a local Employment Department at several locations in Oregon.
Courses Offered
The Electrical apprenticeship curriculum includes courses on:
- Use and Care of Ladders
- Sizing Building Wires
- Aluminum Conductors
- Metric System
- Electrical Basics
- Series Circuits
- Parallel Circuits
- DC Circuit Analysis
- Magnetism and Electromagnetism
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 4864 Airway Dr. Central Point, OR 97502
- Phone: 541-773-5888
- Website: https://clejatc.org
8Portland Community College
About the School
Portland Community College provides apprenticeships and trades education programs at its Swan Island Trades Center.
The Center is a 20,000-square-feet training facility.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, Swan Island Trades Center provides Manufacturing Plant Electrician and Stationary Engineer apprenticeships.
A Limited Building Maintenance Electrician training program is also available at the center.
The apprenticeships are designed for those who work for an employer who is interested in training them as registered apprentices.
The Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee manages industrial registered apprenticeship programs in partnership with Portland Community College.
After completing the apprenticeship, students can earn an Associate Degree in Electrician Apprenticeship Technology.
The following Certificates of Completion are also available:
- Electrician Apprenticeship Technology
- Limited Electrician Apprenticeship Technology
The Associate Degree programs are two years long while the Certificates can be earned in one year.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 19000, Portland, OR 97280-0990
- Phone: 866-922-1010
- Website: https://www.pcc.edu
9Rogue Community College
About the School
Rogue Community College offers a variety of programs of study designed to prepare students for new careers or to help workers keep up with the latest advancements in their field.
The two-year public college is regionally accredited and serves Jackson and Josephine counties at its three campuses: Redwood, Riverside, and Table Rock.
Courses Offered
The Rogue Community College catalog features a wide range of programs, including:
- Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies Limited- Certificate
- Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies- Certificate
- Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies- Associate in Applied Science
- Electronics Technician- Certificate
- Renewable Energy
- Electronics Technology
- And more
Program duration and curriculum vary depending on the pathway.
The Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies: Limited Certificate requires students to complete 4,000 hours of State of Oregon-approved on-the-job training and a minimum of 288 hours of approved related training hours completed in the classroom.
Students must complete the required training with a grade of “C” or better.
The Electrician Apprenticeship Technologies Certificate of Completion requires a minimum of 8,000 hours of approved on-the-job training and a minimum of 576 hours of related classroom instruction.
Contact Information
- Address: 3345 Redwood Hwy. Grants Pass, OR 97527
- Phone: 541-956-7500
- Website: https://www.roguecc.edu
10Southwestern Oregon Community College
About the School
Southwestern Oregon Community College provides training programs in a variety of academic pathways.
The college has two campuses in Oregon: Coos and Curry.
Tuition is $105 per credit for U.S. residents.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Southwestern Oregon Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Electrical/Computer Engineering, Associate of Science program.
This program is designed to equip students with basic engineering skills in circuit analysis and design, computer programming, problem-solving, ethics, and more.
Students who graduate from the two-year program are ready to transfer to a four-year degree in electrical or computer engineering.
The program was designed for students who want to transition to Oregon Institute of Technology’s College of Engineering or the College of Engineering at Oregon State University.
To graduate, students must complete a minimum of 105 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA or better.
Courses must be completed with a grade of at least “C”.
Contact Information
- Address: 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings, OR 97415
- Phone: (541) 813-1667
- Website: https://www.socc.edu
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 320 | $80,270 | $38.59 | $100,030 | $48,110 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 380 | $74,680 | $35.9 | $99,930 | $47,000 |
| Corvallis, OR | 50 | $81,750 | $39.31 | $106,900 | $49,900 |
| Eugene, OR | 610 | $76,740 | $36.89 | $99,730 | $47,370 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 60 | $73,170 | $35.18 | $99,180 | $49,380 |
| Medford, OR | 510 | $76,480 | $36.77 | $101,280 | $48,400 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 6,770 | $89,190 | $42.88 | $116,700 | $49,030 |
| Salem, OR | 670 | $77,210 | $37.12 | $99,720 | $48,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the Best Electrician Schools in Oregon, the next step is to choose the program that best meets your career aspirations, budget, and learning style.
We encourage you to continue the research and gather information about all the relevant factors before deciding where to enroll.
