An electrician is someone who controls the flow of electricity into homes, businesses and factories. They work with wiring, fuses and blueprints to maintain and construct building sites. Electricians are respected and sought out members of the community which is why many youth are looking into an apprenticeship as an electrician as their career of choice.
There are several benefits to becoming an electrician. First of all, most electricians works a standard 9-5 work week which means you can enjoy evenings and weekends with your friends and family. Second, electricians are in charge of a lot of different sectors which means that your job may be different every day. Third of all, electricians make a very decent salary. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, electricians made an annual wage of $48,000 in 2007 with the top 10 percent making well over $75,000 per year. And, finally, electrician jobs are expected to increase by 7 percent in the next ten years meaning that the job possibilities will increase in the future.
Sounds pretty good right?
However, in order to become an electrician, you will need to obtain the proper education and experience. Below we've outlined the steps to turning your curiosity into a successful and fulfilling career.
First of all, you will need to have certain skills to succeed in this career path. You should be good with your hands, be a quick thinker, have good problem solving and math skills and have good hand eye coordination and balance. To become an electrician, you will also need to be over the age of 18 and have a high school diploma or a GED.
Next, you will need to obtain schooling and experience through an apprenticeship program. Most programs offered in the United States, and across the world are four years. Each year you will have 144 classroom hours and over 2000 hours on the job. This combined learning and job experience is the best way to ensure you are trained in all aspects of being an electrician. To qualify for an apprenticeship program you will need a company to sponsor you. They will pay you a wage while you learn and work for them. There are certain schools and companies across the state that provides services for connecting apprentices to companies.
After you completed your training and education, you will need to pass a licensure exam. This exam varies from state to state and will test you on your knowledge of the National Electrical Code, building codes, and electrical theory. Once you have passed your licensure exam, you are officially a licensed electrician.
Some tradesmen continue to work for the company where they completed their apprenticeship while other chose to start their own business or go on to another electrical company with better pay or benefits. After seven years you can return to school for your Masters Electricians which is a great educational title to have, especially if you are considering starting your own company.
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