Work conditions for electrician jobs can vary, as work can take place both indoors and outdoors. The work includes a degree of danger because electricians are regularly exposed to electrical currents and other related hazards.
Electricians commonly work with other construction workers while creating and finishing buildings and other structures. However, an electrician may complete his or her work alone, or may even do the work after construction is complete.
Advancement in the field is possible, as an electrician can oversee other workers and work in a supervisory position. Being bilingual, usually in Spanish and English, is becoming a common requirement for this line of work, as many electricians are called upon to work with people who speak a variety of different languages.
Completing paperwork and reporting results can occupy some of an electrician’s day and require time in an office, but most of an electrician’s time is spent working at a site and traveling to where the work needs to be done. Those willing to put in the time and effort to become an electrician will find a well paying career.
Becoming an Electrician
Working as an electrician requires completing several years of education. Most electricians receive their education in apprenticeship programs, which combine classroom instruction and training while working on the job at the same time. Most programs last four to five years, and each year has around 144 hours of classroom participation and over two thousand hours of work training.
Classroom instruction centers on electrical theory, blueprint reading, math, electrical code requirements, safety, and first aid training. Specialized training for this career can include subjects such as soldering, communication, fire alarm systems, cranes, and elevators — all common work for electricians. The training is most often union sponsored and administered by electricians who have experience.
Starting off with basic jobs, electrician trainees eventually work their way up to full-time electrician jobs. Classroom experience can start before working on an apprenticeship through public and private vocational-technical schools. Such training for this job can provide an incoming electrician a benefit in getting employment, greater pay, and first shot at jobs. Before being an apprentice, however, a person must have a high school diploma or GED.
Education is often pursued continuously by electricians as things change quickly within the field, and may be required to keep a license. Most states require that an electrician be licensed, which requires passing a test and demonstrating their knowledge of the National Electrical Code and local electric and building codes. A special license is required to work as an electrician doing public work, and some states have additional requirements, such as earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
