According a report issued by the U.S. Department of Labor the best way to learn the electrical trades is to complete a three to five year apprenticeship program. By taking part in such a program you will get a sound knowledge of all aspects of the vocation and you are learning mostly on the job, taught by professionals, many of whom have decades of experience. Although this is the most common way to learn to be an electrician some people still learn informally on the job. Some others train to be simply residential electricians in a shorter 3-year program.
Finding the right apprenticeship program for you should be difficult. Programs can be sponsored by joint training committees made up of local unions of the association of electrical contractors, company management committees Electrician Schools In Pittsburgh of individual electrical companies, or even local chapters of any other recognized society or association. Because these programs are so thorough completion qualifies graduates to do both maintenance and construction work.
What is involved in their standard apprenticeship program? Usually they will provide at least 140-150 hours of classroom teaching and thousands of hours of on-the-job training in a year’s duration. Apprentices learn electrical theory, blueprint reading, electronics, electrical code requirements and safety/first aid. Some programs also offer training in welding, communications, cranes and elevators, and fire alarm/security systems. They must prove their expertise in the materials by, at first drilling holes or setting up conduit and later measuring, fabricating and installing conduit, wiring, outlets and switches.
Once and apprentice has finished the program, journeymen usually continue to learn about new or related systems, such as data and video systems, low voltage voice systems and many others. It is common for builders and contractors to want only one electrician who has a mastery of all of the various systems and types of systems they are using or installing.
For the students who don’t enter a formal program they can begin to learn the trade by working as a helper for journeymen electricians. This type of learning is strictly on the job and many students supplement this education with a trade school or correspondence courses.
And of course previous training can be very helpful. Secondary school courses in math, mechanical drawing, science, electricity or shop provide a wealth of knowledge and good background material. The same applies to any special training that would-be electricians learned the armed forces.
Anyone consider the electrical trades as a vocation should be in good health and have at least average strength, agility and dexterity. Good color vision is a must because wiring and components have to sometimes be identified by color. All apprenticeship programs in the U.S. require students to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. If you are seeking a position as a maintenance electrician, knowledge of electronics is ever more important as today´s complex controls are usually solid state. Electricians need to be licensed and although requirements vary from locality to locality, electricians must pass a test to check their knowledge of electrical theory, the National Electrical Code and the local codes.
With a few years experience electricians can rise to become supervisors or even start their own contracting Alternative Careers For Electricians business, although this also requires another license, or become electrical inspectors.
