How to become a certified EV charger installer has a protocol. As more people register EVs in the U.S., the popularity of this new career path will continue to rise. You can become a certified EV charger technician if you are an electrician who wishes to find a more lucrative career path. 

The dynamic field is developing fast, providing money-making opportunities to existing technicians. If you do not know how to get this certification, check out this detailed guide. It discusses the requirements for an EV charger contractor licensing, shedding light on the necessary skills and how to develop them. 

How to Become a Certified EV Charger Installer 

Are you interested to discover how to become a certified EV charger installer in your state? First, you must be a licensed electrician. Whether you have the Master Electrician or Journeyman Electrician license, it will assist you become a certified EV charger specialist. 

Electrician licensing will show that you comply with the electrical codes and safety principles when installing electric vehicle supply equipment. The licensing mandates you to protect yourself and clients during EVSE installations. 

If you are an electrician who has not yet received a license, you can still become an EV charger installer in certain areas of the United States. Nevertheless, you can only install EVSE under a licensed electrician’s supervision. This docket is called Electrical Help or apprentice, and it allows juniors to get guidance from a licensed electrical technician. 

If you wish to follow the apprentice route, check with your state or city department to discover if you require an electrical helper permit. This licensing type will restrict you to given activities, leaving the most complex tasks to the fully licensed supervisor. You can renew your permit to continue learning and gaining experience. 

EV Charger Installation Codes Professionals Installers Should Abide by

How to become a certified EV charger installer entails working by certain regulations. These differ between states, prompting you get specific ones for your jurisdiction. These professionals must adhere to certain codes to carry out safe installations. Here is how to comply with these codes:

• NEC Codes – NEC refers to the National Electrical Code.  It enforces strict EV charging station installation codes. For instance, NEC specifies how to do electrical wiring and grounding. Only certified electricians can understand and abide by these codes during installations.
• State Government Codes – The main requirement for EV charging station contractors is having an electrical license. You can obtain your EV charger certification by first learning what your state requires of you. For example, those in California need a C-10 electrical contractor license. Try to get this data from the local licensing board. Check this data to know the entire process, including training and examinations. Once you understand your state requirements, you can uncover how to become a certified EV charger installer. 
• Local Requirements –As a licensed electrician, you should understand and follow local electrical codes. These regulations stipulate that you mention the project location, the charger you will install, and related information. When seeking local permits for public electric car chargers, you must submit comprehensive plans and conduct project inspections. If a public EV charging station installation affects the community, a Tesla certified installer like you should defend your client. Abiding by the local zoning laws and building codes can ensure you offer top-notch and legal installation services.
• Federal Requirements – Article 625 stipulates the federal EV charging station installation requirements that only the National Electrical Code can govern. This article reveals the crucial provisions to ensure when handling EVSE. How to become a certified EV Charger installer demands compliance with the Article 625.

Skills a Certified EVSE Installer Need

How to become a certified EV charger installer involves crucial skills. The most vital skill is electrical equipment handling knowledge and expertise. You should know how to do technical installations safely, accurately, and according to the NEC, state, local, and federal standards. 

The electrical knowledge skill means that you comprehend electric wiring and circuits. 

It also means you can do electrical wiring and troubleshoot faults, As a licensed electrician, you should have technical and engineering skills. You must understand the installation instruction for different EV charger levels. 

Being able to interpret technical drawings and plans is an engineering skill you should have to do accurate EV charger installations and upgrades. Thirdly, you should know the safety practices to ensure when tackling EVSE.  It is a crucial lesson on how to become a certified EV charger installer in your jurisdiction. 

Safety means getting training in Occupational Safety and Health Administration principles. You must be a skilled risk assessor and be capable of following safety protocols to prevent electrical hazards associated with EVSE.  

How to Obtain EV Charger Skills and Certification 

How to become a certified EV charger installer is easy if you have the correct skill sets. Once you have these skills, you can apply for licensing to become a certified EVSE installer. First, you should obtain a formal education in colleges that offer electrical engineering courses. 

After that, you need to seek practical EV charging Station technical training as an apprentice. Finally, enter the field as a professional and advance your career path via hands-on experience and further education. Here is a clear path to becoming a certified EV charging station installer: 

• Become an Electrical Engineer – Join a vocational training college or a trade school to pursue an electrical engineering course. The school program will introduce you to the aforementioned skills. You will learn electrical wiring and installation protocols. After passing your main exams, you can apply for helper licensing to work as an apprentice. 
• Apprenticeship in EVSE Installations – As a junior electrical engineer without a full practicing license, you should try apprenticeships for four to five years. These opportunities allow you to learn from a licensed electrical engineer. The apprentice program gives you practical experience, ensuring you apply your coursework to work. 
• Licensing Requirements – Having the book and practical electrical engineering knowledge is not all. You require certification from an accredited organization that offers electrical vehicle infrastructure training. These organizations provide training programs that cover all EV installer areas, including safety precautions, installation guidelines, and proper equipment handling. If you read and pass your state-specific exams, that will be sufficient demonstration that you understand the electrical industry’s best practices. A certification will help establish you as a credible and competent professional. 
• Learn and Advance Your Profession– Now you know how to become a certified EV charger installer. However, there is more learning to do once you join the EV charging station installation sector.  Attend various seminars, workshops, and conferences to get advanced training. These opportunities can help position you as a more competent and reliable EVSE contractor. Technology advancement in the electrical mobility industry should encourage you to get updates on newer EVSE devices, laws, and codes, etc. 

Getting an Electrical Helper License During Apprenticeship

How to become a certified EV charger installer also entails applying for an Electrical Helper license. The first thing to do is to check if your state offers electrical helper permits. Many states have these permits because they enable entry-level engineers to get supervision from a licensed expert. 

As these apprentices gather valuable knowledge and skills, they also learn to comply with safety standards. If you want to get your electrical helper permit fast, carry out these easy steps:

• Understand the Requirements – Each state has unique requirements for electrical helper licensing. You can gather this knowledge from the Department of Labor’s portal or contact your state’s licensing board. 
• Check Education Requirements – Your state has certain education and training requirements you should satisfy. In most cases, you need a high school diploma plus vocational college training in electrical engineering.
• Submit an Application – The next step is to fill out the blank spaces on your electrical helper license application form. In this form, you will share your personal identification details, education history, and any electrical engineering jobs you have done before. 
• Do an Examination – Some states will still have you do an exam to verify your information. The test will check your basic understanding of electrical systems and codes, local building codes, safety precautions, etc.
• Application Fees – You will pay an application fee for your electrical helper permit. The fee is not standard in all states that issue this permit. Once you pay, submit your application form and wait.
• License Renewal – Depending on your state, you should renew your helper license after a certain period. In some jurisdictions, further education is the only way to keep your license throughout your apprenticeship. 

Once you finish learning as an apprentice, you will satisfy your state’s electrical contractor licensing requirements. Once you get your license, you can instruct someone new on how to become a certified EV charger installer and find contracts to do for money. 

Final Thoughts

How to become a certified EV charger installer in the United States is relatively straightforward if you are a licensed electrician. If you are still in an apprenticeship, you cannot become a certified EV charger installer until you finish and apply for licensing. Ensure you meet the minimum education requirements before applying for your helper license or EV charger installer certification.