Becoming an electrician is a challenging road for those who want to be a professional in this craft. Working with electricity is not a job for everyone. It takes specialised skills; that is why an electrician for homeowners is a highly valued professional. The median salary for an electrician is around $73,000 a year. Evidently, this can be a lucrative business, so what does it take to be one?
Technical Schooling
In Australia, the most basic requirement to start one’s career as an electrician is to take a certification on Electrotechnology. Most trade schools would offer a program that would last anywhere from six weeks to six months. They are designed to equip future electricians with fundamental knowledge and skills in service trades and instrumentation.
These knowledge and skills include selecting, installing, testing, maintaining, and repairing standard electrical systems. Assessment of technical schools ranges from oral, written, and practical to give a glimpse of the licensure exam. Many of them offer career service assistance to connect their students to a reputable internship program.
Apprenticeship
Knowing the basics is not enough to qualify as a professional electrician. Every aspiring professional in this field must first go through an apprenticeship program that typically lasts for four years. Some apprentices can already start earning or getting allowance depending on the company that they are affiliated with.
The apprenticeship program’s goal is to provide aspiring electricians for homeowners with practical skills under the supervision of a seasoned professional. A few of the things that they will be allowed to work on are connecting advanced wirings and installing low-voltage circuits. They can also be permitted to handle complicated and expensive instruments during their training period.
Working with electricity is a dangerous job, so they need to learn the ropes from those who have been in the business for a long time. Being supervised is also a protection for them since faulty electrical wiring is a common neophyte mistake. One error in the circuitry can cost thousands of dollars, so having a trained professional to check their work is an excellent measure.
Certificate of Proficiency and Licensure
Once done with the apprenticeship program, they can now apply for a Certificate of Proficiency. Having this certificate is proof that the apprentice has successfully learned and applied the necessary electrical skills. Afterwards, they can get their professional license already. This license can be applied to the Department of Fair Trading. Processing of documents often takes six weeks from the start of the initial application. Once approved, they can now start working as professionals. Many of these neophyte electricians would usually stick to where they had their apprenticeship for added experience.
Continuing professional development
There is so much to learn when one is working with electricity. Aside from experience, electricians can also benefit a lot from certificate courses. One course to look into is a management certificate for those who want to expand their business and partner with other electricians. Furthermore, since electrical safety standards keep changing and smart system devices keep upgrading, it is best to take short-term classes to stay updated on the latest trends.
Becoming an electrician is not a walk in the park. It will take years of serious dedication to the craft to become a professional. Even after getting a license, they still need to develop their knowledge and skill because the industry is ever-changing. Nonetheless, those who will take on this path will find that being an electrician is very fulfilling. The next time you hire an electrician, have a deeper appreciation for their challenging profession.
This article is written by David Smith, a copywriter and content strategist. He helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI quickly. He loves reading books and car racing.