Electrician Programs
Electricians must take both classroom training and on-the-job apprenticeship programs to get a thorough education. They also must pass a licensing exam, which takes a fair amount of study and demonstration of knowledge to pass. Electricians should be prepared to follow blueprints so they know how to place wiring and outlets in homes and businesses. Sometimes they are hired to replace outdated systems or circuit breakers and transformers as well.
Training in Electrician Programs
Most electricians complete some sort of apprenticeship to learn their trade, after a few years of educational training. There are a number of electricians' unions and contractor groups which sponsor apprenticeships alongside degree or vocational training. Electrician programs require students to be at least 18 years old, with a high school diploma. After more than one hundred classroom hours and 2000 hours of on-the-job training, electricians must pass a licensing exam to begin their careers.
Careers as an Electrician
As an electrician, you are responsible for the electrical integrity of a building's wiring. Working with the National Electrical Code, electricians follow blueprints to install and update electrical, power and communications wiring. Any work an electrician does is also regulated by state and local building codes. They typically deal with wiring systems, although in this age of communications technology electricians may also install communications systems and internet cable. Electricians typically work on an hourly salary depending on experience, usually between $15 and $30 per hour.
