There are many options for electrician jobs today. One of them is to become an independent or private contractor. With the shortage of qualified and licensed electricians, this line of work offers a lot of opportunities to those who want to start their own business as independent electrical contractors. Just like any technical job, there are certain skills and qualifications one must have to be able to begin a career as an electrician. These basic requirements are necessary to ensure safety and that the work is done properly.
Getting Licensed Commercial Vs Residential Electrician Pay
You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for electrician jobs. The minimum requirement is a high school diploma to get into an apprenticeship program. You can do your apprenticeship under a master electrician or through programs initiated by electrician’s associations. These programs teach you everything you need to know about being an electrician while giving you on the job training to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom sessions. The apprenticeship and training stage lasts for about 4 years and once you have completed the classroom curriculum and accumulated enough hours of hands on experience, the next step would be to take the licensure exam. For those with electrician experience but no formal apprenticeship or training, it is still possible in some states in the US to register for and take the licensure exams through the Grandfather Clause. There is an examination fee, as well as a licensing fee once you’ve passed the test. If you’re planning to be a private contractor, there are additional steps you must take. Another exam is required to get a contractor’s license and some states require you to pre-qualify before you can even take the test. Contact your nearest testing center for more details on the requirements for taking the contractor’s licensing exam.
Being an independent contractor allows you to work alone or to hire electricians to your team and bid for electrician jobs needed to be done by construction companies and other organizations. Compared to being employed, being a contractor gives you the flexibility to choose which contracts to accept and how much to charge. There is fierce competition in this industry and the contractor that promises to deliver Commercial Electrician Apprentice more for the least amount of money gets the contract. This is why a contractor must have a good business sense and leadership skills. They also need to make sure that the people they hire are properly licensed and insured to avoid any problems further down the line. With the demand for electrician jobs rising, being an independent electrical contractor seems to be a good career move for people in this field.
