Whether a licensed electrician is apprentice or college trained, they will need to have completed 6,000 to 8,000 hours of on the job training, 144 hours of coursework, and have passed their licensing exam. However, their schooling doesn’t end there, because to maintain their license they have to complete even more continuing education classes. At each new skill level, an electrician must pass a licensing exam, get even more work experience, and keep taking classes to keep themselves current in their field. With all this in mind, it is easy to see why an electrician is qualified for the job.
What Type of Training will Career Change To Electrician My Electrician Have?
The first step to becoming an electrician, usually, is an apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship program is a period, usually lasting four to five years of on the job training under a more experienced, licensed electrician, either a journeyman or master. Your licensed electrician will also need to complete his or her classroom work successfully before he or she can take is licensing exam.
Are there Further Requirements Self Employed Electrician Business Plan for My Electrician?
After your electrician has passed the licensing exam, he or she becomes a journeyman and can work unsupervised, but the class work is not over. He or she must take continuing education classes each year to keep their license and skills current. The amount varies state by state, but is usually between four and eight hours per year. These courses are chosen by the state, and include national and state code changes to keep the electrician up to date.
What if My Electrician is not Licensed?
If the person working for you does not have a current electrician’s license, it could become a major problem for you. Apprentices are not licensed, and they are only allowed to work under the supervision of a licensed electrician. Some states don’t require an electrician to be licensed, so check your state’s regulations. However, if he or she is required to have a license there may be ramifications (which can range from a small fine to a jail sentence).
Does it really Matter if the Electrician is Licensed if it Just a Small Job?
As stated above, using an unlicensed electrician could result not only in problems for the electrician, but for you as well. Beyond any fines you may receive, you are trusting your home or business to someone who may not know what they are doing. Electrical problems are the most common source of fire in many buildings. You may be risking everyone’s safety, not to mention your livelihood, on an unlicensed person. The money you save now may cost you more in the future.
Training to become a licensed electrician is rigorous, time-consuming, and exacting, but when it is done, you will know that they know their job thoroughly, and have proved it by getting their license, which is required to work without supervision in most states. Their license is proof that the electrician you hired is qualified, highly skilled, and dedicated to their profession, and you can be assured that they can handle any task you give them with confidence and pride.
