Trade Schools With Electrical Training Programs
- Pinellas Technical College
- Summit College
- Southern California Institute of Technology
- Santa Barbara Business College (SBBC)
- Penn State World Campus
- New England Institute of Technology
- Milan Institute
- Boston University
- Houston Community College
- Cleveland Institute of Electronics
- Ashworth College
- Centura College
- Altierus Career College
- Coyne College
- Dorsey Schools
- Eastwick College
- Brightwood Career Institute
- FORTIS College
- The Refrigeration School
- Southern Technical College
- Penn Foster College
- HoHoKus School of Trade & Technical Sciences
- YTI Career Institute
- Porter and Chester Institute
- InterCoast
- Lincoln Tech
- Northwestern Technological Institute
- Pennco Tech
- Stratford Career Institute
- Vista College
Electricians handle many important duties, whether it’s making repairs and rewiring light fixtures to installing new ones in homes and businesses. Hopefuls go to an electrical school to learn the trade. There, students learn everything about electricity, including how currents work and how to set up and replace lines, sockets, and fixtures.
Depending on the client, electricians work in many different settings. Both new construction and existing structures need to have updated and working electricity. Industrial equipment repair is another significant part of an electrician’s job. Many workers specialize in one area such as maintenance or new builds.
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What Is an Electrician?
An electrician is a professional who works with electricity by installing and maintaining lines, fixtures, and equipment. Each day, the employee heads to existing buildings or construction sites to restore or supply power to the structure and its residents.
People with electrician jobs need to understand how electricity works, as well as how to install fuse boxes, handle live wires and connect different types of circuits. Workers must know all electrical standards and codes so that each completed job meets the expected requirements.
Potentials attend an electrician school to learn more about the trade, like how to read blueprints and diagnose potential problems. Since employees often work in pairs due to the possible dangerous nature of electricity, students often rely on teamwork in the classroom.
What Are an Electrician's Job Duties?
Workers handle everything from electrical fixture installation to maintenance. An electrical career involves knowing how to fix broken wires, hang outlet boxes, and safely ground electrical components. Employees use a variety of tools to complete their tasks including wire strippers, voltage testers, calibrators, and pliers.
Every day presents a new workplace challenge for an electrician. If the worker specializes in construction, a job site can vary from industrial and business locations to homes. An electrician might address multiple electrical issues at numerous locations each day.
During construction, wires go through the frame of the building before the walls go up. From there, electrical employees install outlets, meters, and fixtures. In addition, an electrician also:
- Mounts back boxes
- Runs cables for telecommunications
- Follows blueprints
- Installs security systems
- Connects wires to fittings and sockets
What Types of Skills Should an Electrician Possess?
First and foremost, electricians must understand Ohm’s law. The law governs voltage and conductivity. Workers should know and adhere to electrical codes for the geographical area and stay up-to-date on any changes. Each state has its own set of codes that electrical wiring and voltage need to follow.
Managing time effectively in the workplace is another essential skill for employees. From installing lines to repairing them, every single electrical job involves specific time requirements. Communication is also crucial, especially if the job is more extensive and takes longer than planned.
Potentials require physical strength to stand for long periods and lift heavy machinery and equipment over 50 pounds. Plus, most spend the day alternating between standing upright and crouching down to complete repairs and pull wires.
How Do Electricians Maintain Their Workspace?
An electrician works on various job sites spread over a certain area. Since every task requires different tools to fix the problem, workers wear toolbelts that contain important items. They also carry work buckets with oversized items needed for the job. An electrician’s truck tends to have an extra supply of tools in case of breakages or less common fittings.
Why Do Electricians Need the Ability To Work with Electricity?
Due to electricity’s power to give everything from a minor shock to a dangerous surge, electricians should take several precautions. For example, to minimize risks, workers need to wear boots that have rubber soles but no steel toes. They should also double-check any power lines or electrical boxes to maintain the safety of themselves and others.
How Do Electricians Promote Their Work?
Electrical workers who operate as independent contractors promote completed jobs by placing signs on the lawns of houses and other structures. Electricians also put advertisements in newspapers and monthly community booklets. Internet ads, paper fliers, and even local sporting team sponsorships help spread the word about the business.
What are Useful Skills for People in This Field?
- Understanding Ohm's law
- Possessing manual dexterity
- Utilizing power tools
- Reading technical drawings and blueprints
- Working as a team
- Paying attention to detail
- Following instructions
- Being physically fit
Are There Special Requirements for Electrician Jobs?
Obtaining an electrical degree is the first step towards a career in the field. Potentials learn about the various facets of electricity through hands-on study. Some programs require an apprenticeship once potentials complete their coursework. Students typically gain job experience by working alongside a licensed electrician.
After graduating from an electrician degree program, potentials take a certification test. The content of each test varies based on the state of residence. However, most require that learners hold a related degree or diploma from a trade school and have some practice.
Once a certified electrician has experience, they may qualify to take a journeyman test. On average, workers need several years of full-time work before taking the test. A journeyman position is one step closer to becoming a master electrician.
What Is the Outlook
of Electrician Jobs?
Electrician careers are on the rise and expected to grow around 10% over the next decade. The increase of alternate energy sources like wind and solar power, plus new home construction, help create new jobs in the field. The average pay for an electrician is currently between $55K and $94K, though could see a change due to job demand.
What Should Workers Expect on a Construction Site?
Working on a job site involves navigating potential hazards and communicating with other tradespeople. For example, new buildings go up in various stages, so electricians often interact with carpenters and drywallers throughout the process. Heavy equipment and live electrical wires are just a few of the possible dangers that electrical employees face while at work.
Where Can Prospects Find Work?
Since the field is so varied, potentials with an electrician degree often work in related positions. Telecommunications and cable companies that need workers to string lines and repair signals often look to certified electricians to handle specialized jobs.
Manufacturing businesses hire electricians to keep essential equipment running. Workers might also repair any broken electrical lines in the building and ensure that the company’s infrastructure is working correctly on all levels.
Electrical jobs often include several benefits. Union workers and company employees receive paid vacation and sick days. Retirement plans like a 401K are also available for eligible workers. Laborers can receive health insurance and other benefits as well, depending on their role and job duties. Some locations that may offer these include:
- Cable and Telecommunications Companies
- Power Companies
- Private Electrical Contractors
- Electrical Unions
- City Building Departments
Can You Work Throughout the Year?
As opposed to seasonal trades, electricians often work year-round. Some jobs, such as running wires through new buildings, may take place only in summer. However, electrical problems occur in existing buildings no matter the time of year. As a result, electricians usually do not go through months of unemployment like others in the construction field.
Do Electricians Have Any Other Options?
Electricians with experience may sometimes find work as a project manager or maintenance supervisor. Both positions require leadership skills and job-related knowledge. Other options include employment as a line inspector or a power distribution specialist.
What are Alternate Careers for Electricians?
Workers with electrical skills may operate machines in factories, ensuring the equipment runs properly. Field service technicians and electrical supervisors are two other possible careers. With additional education, workers may also find a job as a heater and air conditioning repair person.