Electrical Contractor: The Training Required for the Job

Jun 1
06:57

2012

Aaliyah Arthur

Aaliyah Arthur

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An electrical contractor is usually someone who installs new wiring systems into homes, businesses, and other facilities. The following is an overview of the education process prior to entering the field.

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An electrical contractor is usually someone who makes it their career to install new wiring systems into homes,Electrical Contractor: The Training Required for the Job Articles businesses, and other facilities. While the bulk of their early training will consist of the same education a repair electrician must complete, their focus will be primarily geared towards original installation, rather than repairing existing systems. According to government studies, it is a growing field when it comes to employment opportunities, with available jobs expected to climb 12% through 2018. Whether you're interested in getting into the field or simply want to know what kind of training is expected for the job, here is an overview of the education process.

Formal Education

Strictly speaking, an electrical contractor does not necessarily need formal collegiate-level education to move into the field. This, of course, will vary depending on specific employers and their requirements for hire. In order to move into an apprenticeship, however, an individual must have completed high school or the equivalent thereof. It is certainly beneficial in a tight job market to have done some degree of post-high school training, such as a technical school certificate or community college degree. In some states, it is possible to transfer this education into substitutions for part of the necessary experience requirements.

Apprenticeship

Following high school (or technical/community college), an individual wishing to become an electrical contractor will find an apprenticeship. This is often done through local unions, which assist in placing young trainees with master electricians to begin their training, while being paid to do so. These apprenticeships will usually be divided into a combination of classroom learning and on-the-job experience. Most states require four years of apprenticeship before the individual can move on to become a journeyman.

License

While similar, you can expect licensing requirements for an electrical contractor to be somewhat different from those of a repair electrician. The requirements will reflect the changed focus of the job and may include additional training above and beyond the apprenticeship itself. There may be a requirement on the number of hours an individual must have spent in both commercial and residential settings.

Business

If an electrical contractor wants to start his own business, classes focusing on how to do that may be a good idea as well. Running a business for profit is an entirely different beast from learning a trade, which can be a tough lesson to learn for many just starting out on their own. Unless gifted with an innate sense of how to do it, business classes can go a long way towards ensuring success.