5 Steps You Can Take to Become an Electrician

Outlet

Electricians are highly respected in our society because we will always need electricity experts to keep our communities functioning the way they do today. This job is one where you can make a comfortable living without being required to undergo years of schooling, so if you are interested in becoming an electrician, follow these five steps:

Determine What Type of Electrician You Want to Be

As with most professions, there are a variety of specialties you can choose from within the realm of being an electrician. Just to name a few, there are journeymen, domestic, and commercial electricians who perform different tasks and have slightly different skill sets. All electricians start as apprentices before they can work their way up the ladder, but you should have an idea of your long-term career goal before you start to ensure that you are taking the right path to get there.

Obtain a High School Diploma or GED

The minimum educational requirement to become an electrician is a high school diploma or GED. Because electric work is dangerous, employers want to make sure that their electricians have a well-rounded education in math, science, and more. If you already have a high school diploma, great! If you do not, find a GED preparation program in your area to help you pass the GED test and move onto the next step on your path to becoming an electrician.

Get Training At a Trade School

Although it is not required to undergo formal training at a trade school to become an electrician, doing so can set you apart from the crowd. While in school, you can learn the basics of electrical work without worrying about pleasing your boss at the same time. In the trade school environment, you can gain the knowledge to make you more comfortable in your apprenticeship and you can learn from your mistakes without worrying about real-life consequences.

Apply For Apprenticeships

Every aspiring electrician must start out as an apprentice before they can become an actual electrician. If you attended a trade school program, they will likely provide you with the resources to find an apprenticeship upon completion of the program. If you did not attend a training program, you will need to reach out to employers in your area or look at the United States Department of Labor’s website to find an apprenticeship opportunity.

Get Your License/Certification

Depending on where you live, the standards for becoming a professional electrician will vary. Most states require that you pass a test and obtain a license or certification before you can work as an electrician. Some states do not require a license at all, but certain cities within those states will require one. Do your homework on the area you want to work in to figure out what steps you need to take because the last thing you want is to start working as an electrician only to find that you are not legally allowed to do it.