What does the work involve?
You test power equipment so the owner knows it will work. Acceptance testing happens on new gear before it's energized. You check the installation, take readings and compare them to the manufacturer's data and the spec. Maintenance testing happens on gear that is already in service. You trend the results over the years and catch insulation breakdown, loose connections and worn breaker mechanisms before something fails.
The equipment ranges from low voltage panels and breakers up to medium voltage switchgear, transformers, cables and substation gear. You'll run insulation resistance, contact resistance, breaker timing and transformer tests, then write up the data. Bad numbers mean a repair or a replacement, so your report has to hold up.
Where does relay work fit in?
Protective relays decide when a breaker trips. Relay testing means injecting current and voltage with a test set, checking that the relay picks up and times out at its settings, and confirming the trip actually reaches the breaker. It ties into commissioning, where you prove a whole system works together. NETA's exams test this as systems and commissioning. That topic is 5% of the Level 2 exam, 17% of Level 3 and 20% of Level 4, so expect more of this work as you move up.
How do the NETA certification levels work?
The InterNational Electrical Testing Association certifies technicians under the ANSI/NETA ETT standard. There are four levels, and you must qualify and pass the exam for each level in order. Level 1 Trainee needs a high school diploma or GED, and your employer gives the exam. Trainees help with setup, cleaning and simple measurements while a Level 3 or Level 4 supervises them.
Level 2 Certified Assistant does limited testing, usually under direct supervision. Level 3 Certified Technician supervises Levels 1 and 2, evaluates test data, keeps records and can perform power switching. Level 4 Certified Senior Technician runs large projects and multiple crews, works independently and writes complex reports. NETA counts you as a certified technician only at Levels 2 to 4, and only while you work for a NETA Accredited Company.
What about travel and schedule?
Testing firms go wherever the equipment is: data centers, plants, hospitals, utility substations and solar or battery sites. Expect overnight trips and work in the field more than at a shop. Maintenance testing often has to happen during planned shutdowns, which usually fall on nights, weekends and holidays when the owner can afford to lose power. Commissioning work tends to pile up at the end of a construction job. Ask any employer how many nights a year you'll spend away before you sign on.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. These are the 25th to 75th percentile ranges, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for May 2025 and adjusted to 2026 with a wage index. State figures are modeled estimates. Your NETA level, overtime from shutdowns, per diem for travel and how much relay and commissioning work you do all move the number. Refer to the High Voltage & Testing salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- EducationYou need a high school diploma or GED to start as a Level 1 Trainee. Two or more years of electrical technical education can stand in for up to one year of experience.
- Level 2 trainingYou need 40 hours of safety training, 160 hours of electrical training and two years of related experience.
- Level 3 trainingYou need 64 hours of safety and 400 hours of electrical training in total, plus five years of related experience.
- Level 4 trainingYou need 104 hours of safety and 600 hours of electrical training in total, plus ten years of related experience.
- ExamsThe exams for Levels 2 and 3 have 100 questions and Level 4 has 65. All are closed-book and proctored on site, with two hours allowed. You need 410 or higher on a scale of 200 to 500 to pass.
- EmployerNETA certified technician status at Levels 2 to 4 requires working for a NETA Accredited Company. You also have to keep up continuing education.
- Safety knowledgeFrom Level 2 on, you're expected to understand lockout/tagout, arc-flash and shock hazard analysis, and how to control hazardous energy.
How to get there
- Year 0Hire on as a Level 1 TraineeJoin a testing company with a high school diploma or GED. Set up test equipment, clean gear and take simple readings while a Level 3 or Level 4 supervises you. Your employer gives the Level 1 exam.
- Year 2Pass Level 2 Certified AssistantFinish 40 hours of safety and 160 hours of electrical training, then pass the 100-question exam. Component testing makes up 55% of it.
- Year 5Pass Level 3 Certified TechnicianReach 64 safety hours and 400 electrical hours in total, then pass the exam. Now you can lead small crews, review data and do power switching.
- Year 10Pass Level 4 Certified Senior TechnicianReach 104 safety hours and 600 electrical hours in total, then pass the 65-question exam. Now you can run large projects and multiple crews.
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Questions people ask
Do I need to be a licensed electrician to become a NETA technician?
NETA's Level 1 entry requirement is a high school diploma or GED. NETA doesn't list an electrician license as a prerequisite. Some technicians come over from the electrical trade or the military, and two years of electrical technical school can count for up to one year of the experience requirement.
How long does it take to reach NETA Level 3?
Level 3 requires five years of related experience. You also need 64 hours of safety training and 400 hours of electrical training in total, and you must have passed Levels 1 and 2 first. Two or more years of electrical technical education can shorten the experience requirement by up to one year.
Can I get NETA certified on my own?
NETA only recognizes certified technicians who work for a NETA Accredited Company. That means you normally earn and keep the certification through your employer at a testing firm.
What is the difference between acceptance and maintenance testing?
Acceptance testing proves new equipment was built and installed right before it goes into service. Maintenance testing checks equipment that's already running and tracks how it changes over time, so problems get fixed before they cause an outage.
What is the passing score on NETA exams?
The Level 2, 3 and 4 exams each require a score of 410 or higher on a scale of 200 to 500. Every exam is closed-book, proctored on site and limited to two hours.
