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Are you interested in pursuing a career as an electrician? Not sure what type of education or skills you’d need for an electrician career? Well, have no fear, we’re here to help!
In this article, we’re covering tips and tricks on how to become an electrician, as well as the amazing benefits of becoming one!
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Benefits of Becoming an Electrician
If you’re thinking about becoming an electrician, you’re probably wondering what the benefits are. Here are some of the amazing job perks of being an electrician.
Potential Great Pay
Did you know electrical work pays more than most other trades? Not many people have this skill-set, so it’s incredibly in-demand and valuable to people.
What’s better is that training to become an electrician can be very affordable so that you won’t accumulate the student debt others accumulate during a four-year college track.
Job Security
No matter how the economy is doing, people will always need electricians. This means you can rest easy knowing you have job security and that your skill-set will always be valuable wherever you go.
You Get to Be Your Own Boss
As an electrician, you don’t have to run your own company. But you easily can!
After obtaining your license, with some supplies, a vehicle, and referrals, you can start taking jobs pretty quickly. You can work on your own terms and do what’s most convenient for you in your career.
Interesting Work & Optimal Work Environment
Electrical work is a tricky job, but it’s rewarding. This career requires strong problem-solving skills and an ability to think on your feet.
It’s also great for people who love to work hard but hate office environments where they cannot use their skills to the fullest.
Great Physical Activity
Does the idea of sitting at a desk all day seem unpleasant to you? Are you someone who needs hands-on, physical work to feel productive? If so, work as an electrician may be great for you.
Electrical work is intensive. It requires you to move around, squat, climb, ladders, and more. To an extent, it’s almost a built-in workout! That’s why it’s a great career opportunity for people who like jobs that blend physical and mental tasks.
Another great perk of being an electrician is that you’re not confined to any office space. You’ll be able to work inside, outside, and have plenty of space to move around.
It’s a Well-Respected Profession
Many people consider electricians to be at the top of the construction and trade field.
It’s widely understood how much skill and expert knowledge an electrician needs to do their job correctly. If you become an electrician, you’ll earn the respect of your peers and establish yourself as an expert in your line of work.
What You Should Know About Attaining an Electrician Career
So, you want to be an electrician? Well, there are some things you need to do before you become one. Here are some steps you need to take:
Meet the Basic Educational Requirements
Do you have a high school degree or some other equivalent certification? If not, this is the first thing you’ll need to do before you can embark on your electrician career path. It’s almost impossible to become an electrician without this educational foundation.
If you’re an adult who didn’t finish high school, you’ll want to earn your high school diploma or get your GED. There are plenty of ways to earn your diploma online, so you don’t have to take time out of work to do so!
InterCoast College provides an opportunity for you to receive your high school diploma at the same time you are attending their electrical program. So, you can start the InterCoast program without a high school diploma or GED.
For more information on this great opportunity call (877) 227-3377.
Explore Training Opportunities
Once you’ve got your GED or diploma, the next thing you need to do is start learning electrical work basics.
There are many great ways to gain experience in electrical work. Options include electrical training programs at technical institutes and career colleges, both of which can provide you with the foundational knowledge you need for this career.
In these programs, you’ll learn important things like electrical theory and workplace safety. Most of these programs let students jump in on hands-on projects that give you the experience you need to be ready for when your first real job comes.
Be sure to attend a college or trade school that has approval from its state electrical board. Otherwise, you will likely be unable to take your license exam and accumulate work experience hours to obtain the license.
Get to Work
Once you’ve received proper education from electrical training programs and obtained some work experience, you can start exploring career options.
Depending on where you live, you may need to register as an electrical apprentice before you can begin working. States like Texas and California require you to register to work on an actual job site.
However, this process is relatively easy and, in most cases, requires filling out an easy form and paying a small fee as well as providing proof that you attended an approved college or trade school.
FAQs About Being an Electrician
Now that you know what an electrician is and how to become one, you’re probably curious about other things. You might be asking how expensive training is and what the average electrician’s salary is. Here are some important aspects you should know:
Costs of electrician training vary wildly. In general, pre-apprenticeship training can cost you up to $25,000 or more. Some colleges or trade schools will include the books, materials, toolkit, hard hat to use on a job site.
It would help if you kept in mind that there are financial aid opportunities for those who qualify. Contact us to learn more about IntertCoast training costs.
In 2019, according to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of October 2018), the median pay for an experienced electrician was $56,180 per year or $27.01 per hour. Electricians make an hourly wage as opposed to a yearly salary.
It’s a good idea to look for any sites specific to your field for salary data. These sites may have info on industry average wages, particularly if your field’s a rarer one.
It takes roughly five and six years to become an electrician with all the training and documented work experience hours. However, some states such as California allow you to work in the field as an Electrical Trainee while you are in school.
A trade school program like ours typically only takes you less than a year to complete.
Final Thoughts on What You Should Know About Attaining an Electrician Career
Attaining an electrician career takes time, but it’s well worth it if you’re interested in this industry. By following the simple steps in this article, you can set off to quickly attain this career and become the electrician you want to be.
Ready to embark on your electrician career? Need to start your academic training? Check out our programs!
Thanks for this amazing post. Being an electrician is really a responsible job. You have to be very careful as dealing with electricity involves a lot of risks.
It’s cool that you mention that a career as an electrician offers great job security. I’d like to find a very secure job to support my family, so I’m considering training to become an electrician. I’m going to see if I can find a good business that offers exam preparation services for people who want to become licensed electricians.
I dream of being an electrician, so I planned to take an electrician course in our area. I wonder what it’s like to pursue an electrician career. Your article gave me answers to my questions. You emphasize the tips to be an electrician and the benefits of the job position. Thank you because I gain knowledge about attaining a career as an electrician. It is also a bonus that you’ve included some frequently asked questions about being an electrician.
I dream of being an electrician, so I planned to take an electrician course in our area. I wonder what it’s like to pursue electrician career. Your article gave me answers to my questions. You emphasize the tips to be an electrician and the benefits of the job position. Thank you because I gain knowledge about attaining a career as an electrician. It is also a bonus that you’ve included some frequently asked questions about being an electrician.