How to become a licensed electrician

The electrical industry offers a lifelong career. With new technologies developed and introduced every now and then, there is always a demand for professional electrical services. The roles of electricians can also change, rising from the trade level to middle management, business ownership, or an engineering post.

What do electricians do?

Electricians perform different kinds of tasks. Basically, they install, repair, test, and maintain electronic or electrical equipment for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes.

Home electricians are typically called on for wiring and troubleshooting jobs. On the other hand, commercial and industrial electricians handle the installation, maintenance, and repair of large equipment, motors, and control systems.

Electricians can also create a layout of wiring systems and read electrical or mechanical drawings and diagrams. Having expert knowledge in various aspects of electrical work, they are equipped to easily understand the procedure and requirements specified for a certain task.

Here are other examples of electrical jobs:

• Fault finding
• Lighting installation
• Switchboard and motor installation
• Assembling appliances and other electrical or electronic components
• Connecting circuit breakers

Steps to becoming a licensed electrician

1. Get a solid background.

If you plan on pursuing a career in the electrical industry, you need to have a good foundation in mathematics, physics, and/or industrial arts. This enables you to have a better grasp of how things work. In some cases, school subjects that touch on these aspects are prerequisites to courses that offer training for an electrical occupation.

2. Complete an apprenticeship program.

Candidates with a Certificate II in Electrotechnology Studies (Pre-Apprenticeship) or Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) are often favoured by employers.

Institutions like NECA (National Electrical and Communications Association) offer electrical apprenticeship programs, which consist of classroom courses and on-the-job training. These programs take around four years to complete.

Your other option is to take a technical vocational course where you will learn the classroom theory of electrical work. Afterwards, you’ll need to develop practical skills by finding a host employer and undertaking an apprenticeship with them.

3. Qualify for a licence.

There are specific licensing requirements in every state or territory, but candidates usually need to pass an examination where their knowledge of electrical theories, codes, and regulations is measured.

Specialisations

Apart from levelling up and becoming an electrical contractor or engineer, many electricians also consider focusing on a specialty. Some electricians aim to acquire skills that are specific to building and construction, automation, manufacturing, or green energy industries.

We have a lot of licensed electricians on the site. Just post your job and get free electrician quotes.