How to become an EV charger installer in the US

Who is allowed to install EV chargers?

Wiring a charger means installing a dedicated circuit, often with a service or panel assessment, so it is electrical work. Your state and local building department decide who can do it and when a permit is needed. In practice, the people doing this work are electricians, and the main industry credential is built around that. EVITP only trains state licensed or certified electricians. In states that do not license electricians, you need documented proof of at least 8,000 hours of hands-on electrical construction work instead.

Contractor owners can qualify only in states where the person named on the contractor license is allowed to do electrical work personally. Office staff and managers of an electrical company are not eligible. EVITP also does not certify companies. Contractors that pledge to use EVITP-certified electricians get listed as EVITP Approved, which is a different status from certified.

What EVITP certification involves

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program is a brand-neutral nonprofit that trains electricians in the US and Canada. You apply online for your state, EVITP checks your license or hours over a few days, then sends payment instructions. The online course and proctored exam together take about 20 hours, roughly 18 hours of coursework and a 2-hour exam, and the training is available in all 50 states. EVITP lists the course and exam fee at $350 starting October 1, 2026.

After the coursework, a third-party testing company emails you to set up a live proctored online exam. Booking within 24 hours costs a small extra fee. You need 70% to pass. The certificate covers all 50 states and expires three years after you complete it. To renew, you retake the full course and exam or take a shorter recertification course. The current curriculum, version 5.0, covers DC fast chargers, inductive charging, liquid-cooled conductors and vehicle-to-grid work.

Federal funding rules for public chargers

The federal rule at 23 CFR 680.106(j) sets workforce standards for chargers paid for under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and other publicly accessible chargers built with Title 23 highway funds. Every electrician who installs, operates or maintains the equipment must hold EVITP certification, or a graduation or continuing education certificate from a registered electrical apprenticeship that includes charger-specific training under a Department of Labor-approved national guideline standard.

When a project needs more than one electrician, at least one must meet that standard and at least one must be enrolled in a registered electrical apprenticeship. Non-electrical workers on site need a registered apprenticeship or the licenses and training their state requires. FHWA has updated its NEVI program guidance several times, most recently with interim final guidance in August 2025, so confirm the bid documents on any funded job.

Home chargers versus public and fleet sites

Home work is mostly Level 2 equipment. EVITP describes Level 2 as 120 to 240 volts AC at up to 60 amps. The job is load calculation, a panel or service check, running the circuit and mounting the unit. A solo licensed electrician or a small shop can do it, and the customer conversation matters as much as the wiring.

Public, workplace and fleet sites bring 480-volt AC equipment and DC fast chargers, utility coordination, networked units and crews. That is where funding rules apply. California, for example, requires a licensed contractor on chargers funded or authorized by its utility commission, energy commission or state board. At least one electrician on each job must be EVITP certified, and on ports of 25 kilowatts or more, at least 25% of the crew must be.

Pay

United States

$51,200–86,900

California

$61,400–106,600

Washington

$69,000–125,800

New York

$62,600–110,200

Illinois

$76,100–121,600

Texas

$48,300–73,600

Florida

$49,300–64,100

USD a year, before tax. Ranges run from the 25th to the 75th percentile for all electricians, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 data moved to 2026 with a wage index. State figures are modeled. BLS does not track EV charger installers separately, and union status, commercial versus residential work, and prevailing wage on federally funded jobs all move pay. Refer to the Electricians salary guide for figures from live adverts.

What you need

Electrician licenseYou need a state electrician license or certification to enroll in EVITP. In states without electrician licensing, you need documentation of at least 8,000 hours of hands-on electrical construction experience.
EVITP courseRoughly 18 hours of online coursework covering site assessment, load calculations, the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70E, OSHA rules and charger installation by level. With the exam, the program takes about 20 hours.
EVITP examA live proctored online exam of about 2 hours with a 70% pass mark. The course and exam together cost $350 from October 1, 2026.
RecertificationCertification lapses three years after completion. Renew by retaking the full course and exam or by taking the condensed recertification course.
Federally funded jobsOn NEVI and other Title 23 funded public chargers, electricians need EVITP certification or a qualifying registered apprenticeship credential with charger-specific training.

State by state

Federal (NEVI and Title 23 funded public chargers)	All electricians must hold EVITP certification or a qualifying registered apprenticeship certificate. Multi-electrician projects need at least one qualified electrician and at least one enrolled electrical apprentice.
California	Chargers funded or authorized by the CPUC, CEC or state board must be installed by a licensed contractor with at least one EVITP-certified electrician per job. On ports of 25 kW or more, at least 25% of electricians must be EVITP certified.

How to get there

StartEnter an electrical apprenticeshipJoin a union, open-shop or registered apprenticeship program and work under licensed electricians while taking classroom training.
End of apprenticeshipEarn your electrician licensePass your state's journeyman or equivalent exam. If your state does not license electricians, keep records of at least 8,000 hours of electrical construction work.
After licensingApply for EVITPApply online for your state. EVITP verifies your credentials over a few days and then sends payment instructions.
Within weeksComplete the course and examThe course and proctored exam together take about 20 hours, roughly 18 hours of coursework and a 2-hour exam. You need at least 70% to pass.
OngoingBuild charger experienceStart with residential Level 2 installs, then move to commercial, fleet and DC fast charger work, including federally funded projects.
Every 3 yearsRecertifyRenew EVITP before the three-year expiry with the full course or the condensed recertification course.

Questions people ask

Can I take EVITP training if I am not an electrician yet?

No. EVITP training is limited to state licensed or certified electricians. In states without electrician licensing, you need documented proof of at least 8,000 hours of hands-on electrical construction work. EVITP does not allow non-electricians to audit the class.

How long does EVITP certification take and what does it cost?

The online course and proctored exam together take about 20 hours, roughly 18 hours of coursework and a 2-hour exam. EVITP lists the combined course and exam fee at $350 from October 1, 2026. Booking the exam within 24 hours costs a small extra fee.

Is EVITP required to install a home EV charger?

The federal NEVI rule and California's funding rule apply to funded or state-authorized projects, not every home install. For a typical private home job, your state and local electrical licensing and permit rules decide who can do the work. Many contractors still get EVITP certified for credibility and to qualify for funded work.

Does EVITP certification work in every state?

Yes. EVITP says its certification covers all 50 states, so you do not need a separate certificate for each state. You still need whatever electrician license each state requires before you can do the work there.

Is there another way to qualify for federally funded charger work besides EVITP?

Yes. Under 23 CFR 680.106, an electrician can instead hold a graduation or continuing education certificate from a registered electrical apprenticeship. That apprenticeship must include charger-specific training and follow a national guideline standard approved by the Department of Labor.

How do customers check whether I am certified?

EVITP runs a public Certification Check database where anyone can look up certified electricians. Contractors listed under Find A Contractor are EVITP Approved, which means they pledged to use certified electricians. That listing is not a certification.

How do you become an EV charger installer in the US?