Starting Your Career as an Electrician

Electricity remains one of the greatest inventions of all time. Contemporary life is inconceivable without electricity. You can start your career as an Electrician.

Right from your refrigerator to other home appliances, these all need electricity to operate. Therefore, there is a need for you to train as an electrician and earn a decent life from this career.

Electrician’s training can be divided into two main areas. These areas include:

• Practical experience that is often argued to be the most important
• Qualification

To receive a certification as an electrician, you need to complete an electrician’s course. The course typically takes two to three years. The duration will depend on the program you decide to take.

There are many learning institutions that offer electrician courses. These institutions will teach you how to install, maintain, repair and alter electrical components and systems in businesses and homes as well as in industries.

Part-time Vs. Full-time Electrician Courses

Many educational institutes that offer electrician courses offer both part-time and full-time electrician courses.

Part-time electrician courses enable you to learn while giving you time to attend to your other obligations. In case your work demands a lot of time and attention, you may not be able to attend regular classes. Therefore, part-time learning will be an ideal option for you. Most learning institutions offer part-time electrician courses online. A few others offer the courses during the weekends.

Despite the convenience of part-time learning, this method of learning will require you to be motivated and work hard on your own to earn the electricians’ certification.

Full-time electrician courses will require you to attend classes regularly. They are mostly undertaken by younger people who have fewer obligations to attend to. Unlike part-time learners, full-time learners are motivated as they work as a group and have enough time for their studies.

Responsibilities of an Electrician

An electrician’s responsibility can be simplified into:

• Installation of electrical systems
• Maintaining electrical components
• Repair of electrical setups

As an electrician, you will need to devote yourself to becoming familiar with different electrical blueprints. Mastery of different electrical blueprints will help you carry the above responsibilities with ease.

Working Condition

An electrician’s job involves working indoors and outdoors depending on the electrical systems being worked on. They may work in homes, factories, construction sites or even in offices.

The electrician’s job may, at some point, become physically demanding. The electrician may have to bend conduits, stand, stoop or even kneel for long hours.

As an electrician, you are exposed to risks that include, but are not limited to, electrical shock, falls and cuts in your workplace.

An effective safety procedure at your workplace will help prevent the occurrence of these risks.

Working Hours

Electricians generally work 40 hours a week. They may also work overtime in case of emergencies, especially electricians who are allocated repair and maintenance of a factory.

Earnings

Electrician jobs are very profitable. According to the U.S Bureau of labor statistics (2004), the median earning by electricians per hour was $20.33.

If you are interested in starting your career as an electrician, you will need to identify your potential. You may choose to study full-time or part-time based on your preference and commitments.

BIO

Peter Wright is a professional electrician, having worked for 5 years as a full-time electrician in a leading company. He now teaches electrical courses so if you are looking for part time electrician courses visit his website.