Electrician school in Virginia Beach includes ATI's seven-month certificate, while nearby colleges and apprenticeship providers offer other ways to train. Use the table to compare electrical classes, work requirements and published costs before contacting a school.
Local certificate lengthATI Electrical Systems Technology: 7 months
College wiring classesTCC: 2 semesters for each electrical wiring certificate option
Work plus classroom routeIEC: 4 years, with full-time work and classes two nights per week
State licensing checkpointOne journeyman exam route: 4 years of practical experience and 240 classroom hours
Electrician training and apprenticeships in Hampton Roads
An electrician trade school teaches wiring and safety; an apprenticeship combines classes with supervised trade work. These local choices include construction, industrial and shipyard training, with intake notices where a provider has closed applications.
19 local programs listed
School
Program
Credential
Length
Schedule
Cost
Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach, VA
School states the program counts toward DPOR electrical journeyman training requirements.
Catalog-listed total program cost: $15,300 including technology fees (school estimate); $50 application fee
Centura CollegeNorfolk, VA
Construction electrician program with electrical theory and practical training. Campus and program pages list different night hours; confirm the current schedule.
Linked 2023-2024 Norfolk chart: $26,280 tuition, plus books and fees; request current charges
Tidewater TechNorfolk, VA
Little Creek branch; wiring and electrician assistant preparation. The 2026 fee sheet calls 2026BCT Building Maintenance and Repair; confirm the current program name.
2026 fee sheet, 2026BCT: $19,008 tuition; $20,542 total balance due
Tidewater Community CollegeChesapeake, VA
Five specializations: Fiber & Data Cabling, Industrial & Business Management, Occupational Safety, Programming & Logic Control, and Renewable Energy Technologies.
Full-time job with academic classes, trade theory and on-the-job training
No tuition for accepted apprentices; $45 application fee (waivers apply); equipment and ASSA activity fees extra
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeNewport News, VA
NCCER Electrician Levels 1 and 2; information session and Try Before You Learn required. Published dates and price cover Level 1 only; Core is listed separately.
Published tuition $1,998; Virginia resident $666; income eligible $0
Virginia Beach campuses first, then nearby cities. Details come from each school's website; costs and start dates change, so confirm with the school.
Electrician schools near Virginia Beach: campus details
Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, VA
ATI teaches electrical schematics, structural wiring, motor controls, backup power, and renewable power systems through its Virginia Beach certificate.
Program
Electrical Systems Technology
Credential
Certificate
Length
7 months, including breaks and holidays
Schedule
Four days per week; various schedules
Published cost
Catalog-listed total program cost: $15,300 including technology fees (school estimate); $50 application fee
The Electrical Wiring certificate covers residential and industrial design, voltage regulation, transformers, and power distribution at the Chesapeake campus.
Program
Electrical Wiring
Credential
Certificate
Length
2 semesters
Published cost
2026-2027 Virginia resident tuition: $177 per credit, plus fees; skilled trades courses add $12.50 per credit
At Newport News, Construction Electrician students study wiring methods, blueprint reading, electrical equipment selection, and programmable logic controllers.
VTA electrical students study wiring, power transmission, safety, testing, and applicable codes in classroom and lab courses that supplement work experience.
Program
EL-100 Electrician Career Track
Credential
Certificate
Length
Level 1: 120 hours; Levels 2, 3 and 4: 180 hours each
Electrician apprentices learn to install, operate, and test shipboard systems, including lighting, power distribution, machinery, and interior communications.
Program
Electrician
Credential
AAS and certificate of apprenticeship
Length
School-wide average apprenticeship: 4-5 years
Schedule
Full-time job with academic classes, trade theory and on-the-job training
Published cost
No tuition for accepted apprentices; $45 application fee (waivers apply); equipment and ASSA activity fees extra
Address
3101 Washington Ave., 1st Floor, Newport News, VA 23607
Maintenance electrician apprentices learn to power new equipment and lighting and troubleshoot electrical and electronic components throughout the shipyard.
Program
Maintenance Electrician
Credential
AAS and certificate of apprenticeship
Length
School-wide average apprenticeship: 4-5 years
Schedule
Full-time job with academic classes, trade theory and on-the-job training
Published cost
No tuition for accepted apprentices; $45 application fee (waivers apply); equipment and ASSA activity fees extra
Address
3101 Washington Ave., 1st Floor, Newport News, VA 23607
Start with a certificate or apply for an electrical apprenticeship. IEC Chesapeake describes a four-year program where apprentices work full time and attend class two nights each week.
2
Record work and education
Keep records of your trade experience and completed classes. DPOR's application asks journeyman applicants for experience verification and training transcripts or completion documents for the applicable route.
3
Meet the journeyman standard
Under 18VAC50-30-39, one route combines four practical-experience years with 240 formal training hours. Other options pair five years with 160 hours, six years with 80 hours, or seven years with 40 hours; eight years of practical experience is another route.
4
Submit your license application
Use the current DPOR exam and license application for the electrical trade. Review its education and experience options before scheduling an exam, and keep the required supporting records with your application.
5
Plan for master eligibility
Virginia's rule allows master exam applicants to qualify after holding a valid journeyman license in the trade for at least one year. Nine years of practical experience is another listed route.
Electrician employment and wages around Virginia Beach
BLS reported May 2025 electrician employment and wages for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area: 5,740 electricians, with a mean wage of $30.30 per hour and $63,030 per year. The estimate covers electricians throughout the metro area and does not include self-employed workers. BLS calculates annual wages using 2,080 hours for year-round, full-time work. These occupation-wide averages are a reference for comparing offers, not a starting rate for new apprentices. Before accepting a position, ask how pay changes as you finish training, which benefits are included, and how travel time and overtime are handled.
What electrician training costs and funding to check
For 2026-2027, TCC's published Virginia resident tuition is $177 per credit, plus fees. Skilled trades courses add $12.50 per credit. VPCC's Fall 2026 schedule lists Electrical Level 1 tuition of $4,500, a Virginia resident payment of $1,500 and an income-eligible payment of $0. Those figures cover Level 1 only; confirm funding eligibility.
How long does electrician school take near Virginia Beach?
ATI publishes seven months for its Electrical Systems Technology certificate. Centura lists 48 weeks for Construction Electrician, while TCC's wiring certificates take two semesters. An apprenticeship follows a different schedule: IEC's classroom-based program lasts four years and includes full-time work. Compare the credential and work commitment along with the calendar.
Will an electrician certificate make me a licensed journeyman?
A school certificate is evidence of education, while state licensing has its own requirements. Virginia's examination rule includes routes combining formal training and practical trade experience. It also lists a related two-year degree or qualifying program plus two years of practical experience. Have DPOR review your specific education and work record before relying on a school's exam-preparation claim.
Are there paid electrical apprenticeship options locally?
The Apprentice School describes its registered apprenticeship as a full-time job with trade theory, academic classes and supervised work. Students entering now earn an AAS and a certificate of apprenticeship. Its catalog states that accepted apprentices pay no tuition, though equipment and activity fees apply. Ask admissions which electrical discipline has openings and what work schedule to expect.
Where can I train for shipyard electrical work?
The Apprentice School's Electrician discipline teaches shipboard power, lighting and other electrical systems. Its separate Maintenance Electrician discipline focuses on electrical equipment and systems across shipyard facilities. VPCC also publishes local Marine Electrician classes. These options have different training formats, so confirm the credential, admission process and expected work duties with each provider.
Can military benefits help pay for electrical training?
Virginia Technical Academy states that it is approved by the Virginia State Approving Agency to offer GI Bill education benefits and identifies electrical training among its service tracks. Your own eligibility and the approved course determine what you can use. Ask the school to confirm the exact program before committing, and ask Virginia Career Works about approved training assistance if you need another funding option.