How to Become an Electrician

For people who are interested in learning more about how to become a professional electrician, one of the most often asked questions is how to get started in the trade. Like most trades, the path to working as an electrician features a combination of educational programs and an apprenticeship. The exact schooling that is required is often related to which state you happen to live in: some states require formal vocational training in order to be licensed as an electrician, while others are focused more on practical experience and / or the passing of licensing exams. Furthermore, there are states which do not require any type of licensing whatsoever. It is important to find out the regulations of your home state prior to planning out your career path.

Should you choose to attend a school in order to learn the skills you will need to become a successful electrician, you will find that most programs are very similar in terms of content and curriculum. Upon graduation, you will have learned basic electrical theory, along with having mastered the definitions and calculations necessary for use in the field. You will also be familiar with the National Electrical Codes that govern installations in the United States as well as be able to read electrical blue prints and understand the basics of transformers, generators, and other electrical apparatus. In order to attend one of these schools, you will most likely have to be a high school graduate, although acceptance criteria vary from school to school.

Electrician schools will provide you with a great deal of hands-on training, but after graduation you must be prepared for a fairly long apprenticeship process during which you will receive even more experience in the field. Unlike some other trades, electricians typically remain apprentices for a period of between three and five years. During this time you will be supervised by a Master Electrician, or in some cases a Journeyman Electrician, depending upon the type of work that is being performed and the demands of the job site itself. You can expect to be asked to install different types of electrical equipment, wiring, and other electrical components as well as repair electrical problems with existing installations. You will also be responsible for learning all about electrical safety in order to protect yourself and ensure that the installations you perform are done properly.

At this point in your career trajectory, you will probably have a fairly good idea of what type of electrical work you are interested in pursuing. You will most likely have been exposed to residential, commercial, and industrial electrical jobs, and it helps to know where you want to specialize. Residential work is usually the least demanding and it is popular but not as profitable in the long run. Industrial and commercial jobs often require you to work with higher voltages and heavier equipment, which brings about a commensurate increase in compensation and pay.

After your apprenticeship, you will make the leap to Journeyman Electrician status. The details of how to do so will again depend upon the state you live in, but it usually involves a mix of testing and proof of field experience. Journeymen Electricians are required to be able to understand and diagnose problems in electrical systems as well as be able to install wiring systems in both commercial and residential spaces. Journeymen also sometimes take on a leadership or supervisory role when Master Electricians are not on the job site.

Master Electricians are at the top of the pay scale and experience ladder, and they can work for themselves as contractors as well as hire and supervise apprentice and Journeymen Electricians. Depending upon local requirements, you will most likely have to apply to a state board to become certified as a Master. The certification process often includes a licensing exam, the requirement of five years of hands-on experience actually performing electrical work, successful completion of an apprenticeship program of at least four years, proof of Journeyman qualifications, and proof of a high school education or the equivalent. Some Master certifications could require a Bachelor?s degree in electrical engineering, or might allow that type of experience as a shortcut to attaining the title of Master Electrician.