How can I become an electrician? If this has been your stress, this article is for you. Life would have been misery without electricity.
Electricity is used for everything, like lighting, household appliances, computers, and heating and cooling. Electricians are those people who keep our light on.
The work of electricians is broad, they install and maintain electrical wiring, read blueprints and wiring diagrams, inspect electrical systems, and troubleshoot electrical problems.
How to Become an Electrician
Becoming an electrical is one of the great choices to make. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for electricians is strong.
The BLS projects a 9% growth in job opportunities for electricians between 2020 and 2030, which is twice as fast as the average growth across all occupations.
What does an Electrician do?
Electricians are field trade professionals who are trained to handle a wide variety of issues concerning electrician power. Their main responsibility is to install, maintain and repair electrical equipment of any kind.
There are different fields in electrician work. So, when planning on how to become an electrician, you need to choose the field you want.
Different Types of Electricians Classifications
The following are different types of electricians out there, so let’s begin by divvying up the titles based on education.
Apprentice Electrician
These types of electricians offer a few different ways to break into field. These programs are offered across trade and technical institutes around the country and typically take around two years to complete.
Residential Electrician
This field of electricians focuses on installing, repairing and maintaining the wiring and electrical systems in homes and small apartment buildings.
Master Electrician
This field can be acquired after two years of experience. The specific requirements vary by state but licensing typically requires that candidates pass an exam.
Industrial Electrician
Industrial electricians achieve electrical work in big facilities that use large equipment and machinery. Some examples might include manufacturing facilities, power plants and chemical plants. These engineering structures naturally have more electrical needs than their housing and commercial counterparts.
Journeyman
In this aspect, once you finished your apprenticeship, you will be ready to take the electrical journeyman exam. A lot of State requires this exam to become licensed as a journey electrician.
5 steps to Becoming an Electrician
Before going into an electrician field, it is important you make your research very well. Here are the steps to becoming an electrician.
- Get high school in a high school or GED diploma. Subjects that offer skill sets for electricians include algebra, physics, English, and shop drawing classes.
- Make sure you attend an electrical training program that helps when obtaining the required certification and during the job search.
- Apply for an apprenticeship. You can get an apprenticeship as an electrician by researching opportunities and applying as soon as you’re ready. You can find a local apprenticeship through the United States Department of labour, or by expiring newspaper classifieds and online job boards.
- The next step to follow is to complete the apprenticeship. This training combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training, as well as mentorship and supervision from a master electrician. Most states require that you complete at least four years of apprenticeship before taking the exam.
- Get your license or certification. When you’ve finished individual state requirements for training hours, it’s time to take your state’s electrician license test. Exams test your comprehension of the National Electric Code and other on-the-job skills.
Requirements & Qualifications to Become an Electrician
There are some requirements you need to provide before becoming an electrical. To become an electrician, the required training program is a 4–5-year apprenticeship program, and in most cases state licensing is required.
While for qualifications, here are basic qualifications for pursuing a career as an electrician:
- You need to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED
- You need to be in a good physical condition
- You must have reliable transportation to school and job sites.
- You must be able to work independently and in a group.
- You must follow all their instructions.
However, all qualification depends on your state, there may be other requirements you need to meet before starting your electrician journey.
How Much Does an Electrician Make?
According to the report of the BLS, the electrical medium annual income of $56,900 in May 2020. The lowest 10% reported earnings is less than $33,810 and the highest 105 reported was more than $98,720. Electricians work full time and often work some evenings and weekends.
What Does Electrician Training Look Like?
When you hear of electrician training, it involves electrician trade school conducted online or in person. For instance, Ashworth College offers an online program that consists of 14 lessons and takes four months to complete. Most of the schools that offer electrician training are community colleges.
The advance certificate requires 35.5 credits, while the curriculum includes all of the courses required for the basic certificate. Like conduit bending, print reading, technical math, and courses in motor control systems and low voltage systems.
In addition, the associate in science degree from the city college of Chicago require 65.5 credit including some general education classes.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician?
The program at the electrician trade school usually takes from four months to one year. However, if you choose to attend an associate program at a community college, the degree will take about two years to complete. You will also need to complete a 3–5-year apprenticeship program after completing your training.
FAQs
Which States Require Electricians To Be Licensed?
Most 41 out of 50 States require electricians to be licensed in order to work. Of those that don’t require an electrician license, three states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ohio) require contractor licenses. Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania do not require any licensing for electricians.
How Much Does It Cost To Become An Electrician?
Well, the training is very costly, but the average cost for tuition and fees at two-year public schools in 2019-2020 was $3,800, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A lot of aspiring electricians attend trade school, vocational school and more.
How Do I Qualify As An Electrician UK?
To become an electrician in the UK you will need to combine training, experience and a final assessment. This can classically be completed as:
- An electrical apprenticeship over 3-4 years.
- By breaking the elements down into more manageable steps over a 2–3-year period (Diploma / Technical Certificates.
Can I Become An Electrician At 30?
Becoming an electrician at the age of 30 or above is absolutely possible. There are no age restrictions on becoming an apprentice and some employers favour the life experience that comes from selecting older candidates. However, there are other routines to becoming a fully qualified electrician, like a high score in GED and more.
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