How One Can Train As A Los Altos Electrical Technician

Working with electricity is a potentially dangerous job, for both the person working with it and others in the vicinity. For this reason, those who intend to become Los Altos electrical technicians are required to complete training and certification processes. Electricians, once they are certified, work in a wide range of jobs in a number of different fields.In order to become an electrician, most people undertake an apprenticeship. Unlike other fields where the training has gotten more academic and most people pursue degrees, electricians are so hands-on that most training is still via apprenticeship. There are different types of systems to be worked with, and certified electricians are certified in one or more of these systems.It takes a considerable amount of time to complete an electrician's apprenticeships. Three to five years is the national average, and in California it requires anywhere form 2,000 to 8,000 hours. Apprentices are only allowed to work under electricians with the proper certification, and are referred to as trainees.Depending on the state, there are two-year degrees given in the field, which are usually combined with shorter apprenticeships. In California, electricians work under the supervision of a certified technician as part of an apprenticeship program approved by the state, or as registered trainees. Trainees must complete a given number of hours working with different types of electrical equipment.The entire process does usually begin with coursework. A local adult school, community college, or other entity offers the introduction course which covers some of the protocols which are required when working with electricity. After successful completion of this introductory course, the trainee moves to the hands-on portion of the training program, which can take several years. Training is not complete until he or she completes the required hours and passes the exam.The certification exam for general electricians requires a minimum of 8,000 hours working under the supervision of a certified technician. Less is needed for voice data video, residential and fire/life/safety technician exams, and even less for non-residential lighting technicians. These professionals require the least hours of training, at 2,000 hours minimum. Trainees must be registered as such and working under certified electricians for the hours to count.When the trainee has reached the required amount of hours or finished the approved apprenticeship program, there are certification exams to take. Each specialty has its own exam, and they range from 50-100 questions depending on the test. In the state of California, there is an option to take any exam in either English or Spanish.Becoming a Los Altos electrical technician requires a commitment to the job. It will take several years to complete the trainee requirements, and some of this time may not be paid. Upon completion, the trainee will have put a similar amount of time into his or her career as the average college graduate. Also, similarly to college students, there are loans and grants available to help cover the costs of being an electrical trainee.