Being an electrician requires one to have quite a number of skills which include; planning, maintenance of electrical devices and components and understanding electricity. All the places that require the need for electricity will need the services of a qualified electrician. The places that need electricians may include residential houses, commercial buildings, factories, hospitals and so on. Recent reports in the USA indicate that there are more job opportunities available for electricians as compared to other employment sectors. This certainly indicates the importance of electricians in modern society. In order to be eligible for the vast electrician job opportunities you need to be qualified and have undergone the electrician education and training.
To become an electrician you do not necessarily have to get a degree at college. Just completing your high school is enough to set the foundation for your electrician career. All you need to begin the electrician training process is to complete your GED or have a diploma. Most electricians go through apprenticeship as a form of electrician education or training, however apprenticeship positions are not offered to individuals who did not graduate at high school level or instead complete the equivalency examinations. You may be required to go for advanced electrician training by certain companies.
Apprenticeship programs are the basis of training and education for most electricians today. An apprenticeship is a program that involves on-the-job education, individuals learn whilst getting paid for their work at the same time. Training committees have come together to form a union that overseas the training and certification of electricians in the apprenticeship programs. The union goes on to sponsor the apprenticeship programs and it ensures that the candidates are given the best training and education.
Apprenticeship programs provide individuals with comprehensive electrician education and thus equipping them for industrial work. If you complete the apprenticeship program you will be eligible to qualify for both maintenance and electricity construction work. On average the electrician apprenticeship programs will last for about 4-5 years. In a year a student may obtain up to 144 hours of learning in a classroom instruction setting and 2,000 hours technical work. During the classes the apprentices will be educated on the theory approach of electricity.
There are a number of skills that you will need to attain as an electrician; however there are natural abilities that do come in handy at times. You must have great analytical skills and great hand eye coordination skills. Steady hands are very important when it comes to repairing electrical components successfully and effectively. The students or the apprentices are educated on the importance of these fundamental skills in the profession of electricians. Color is also something that is important in this field, people who are color blind will certainly have a disadvantage when it comes to electrician education. Electricity involves the use of colors and all the apprentices or students should understand this.
During the course of the electrician education or training you will first attain a training certificate which will lead you to the electrician license. In order to obtain the training license you need to be above the age of 18 years. You will continue to renew your training certificate biannually until you have set for the licensing exam and hence obtained the license. The license is the most important part of the electrician training as it leads you to job opportunities.
