There are two ways of becoming an electrician. One way is through an apprenticeship program and the other is through a community college or technical school. Both ways lead you to the rewarding career of becoming an electrician. This article will provide detailed information on how to become an electrician.
When you enter an electrician apprenticeship program it comes with inherent value. As an apprentice, you pay no tuition and you get paid as an apprentice. You are only responsible for books and hand tools. Where as a community college or technical school will charge you tuition and fees. An Apprenticeship program is usually with a licensed contractor or union and sponsored by a local union or apprenticeship committee.
An apprenticeship program runs for four years and covers 8,000 hours of on the job training, OJT, and 144 hours per year in classroom instruction. Apprenticeship programs may have classes after work in the evenings.
The community college program or vocational schools also requires the same amount of OJT, but cut the classroom time in half. At the end of the two years the student achieves an Associates degree. Both programs qualify the student to be a journeyman electrician.
To qualify for an electrician apprenticeship a person needs to have a high school diploma, GED, or college degree and be of 18 years old. You must be able to prove birth date with either a passport or birth certificate. An electricians apprenticeship program provides on the job training in conjunction with classroom work. A good sound knowledge of high school algebra is required and the apprenticeship program requires all applicants to pass an aptitude test.
The community college and vocational schools only require a GED or high school diploma. In addition they are fare easier to get into.
In an associate’s degree program, the following courses usually are required depending on the state: Mathematics for electricians National electrical codes, Physics theory for electricians, Fire alarm systems, Advanced test instruments, High voltage testing, and Electrical grounding
Richard Williams is a retired certified New York electrician with over 30 year’s experience. He now teaches his vast knowledge of the trade to future electricians in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recommends all future students of the trade receive a formal education. He reminisced about his training and talked about his apprenticeship program.
He said he worked with a certified electrician when he did his OJT.
“I was not allowed to do anything dangerous or use certain machine tools unless he was right there with me.” Williams worked as a construction electrician who installs wiring systems in large buildings or new homes.
There are two types of electricians, maintenance electricians and construction electricians. Maintenance electricians maintain the wiring systems in large buildings and repair any systems that may go down.
Apprenticeship programs and community colleges or vocational schools prepare you to be either type of electrician. Apprenticeship electricians start at around $13 per hour depending on state and journeyman electricians start at $30.