Are you wondering how to become a commercial electrician? If this is a career you are interested in, you should know that there is currently a shortage of workers in the field. Electricians work in various roles, including journeyman electrician, electrical tech, inside wireman, outside lineman, and many others. While you do not need to know the exact type of electrician you’d like to become, you should follow the 5 steps to becoming a commercial electrician.
How To Become a Commercial Electrician
If you are pursuing a career as a commercial electrician, here are 5 steps you should follow.
Step 1: What Are Your Electrical Interests?
When you first decide to become a commercial electrician, you must first decide what you are interested in. There are several things to take into consideration, such as the amount of time it will take you to reach your goals. Do you want to become a licensed electrician, or are you more interested in being an electrician technician or assistant? Techs don’t require much training since they will be supervised by a licensed technician. Licensed technicians must complete four years of an electrical apprenticeship.
Step 2: Requirements
In order to become a licensed electrician, many states will require you to be at least 17 years of age, have a high school diploma, and take an aptitude test on reading comprehension and math. The aptitude test will consist of various questions. It is in your best interest to prepare ahead of time. Electricians use math skills when they are trying to figure out the force of electrical currents. English is needed to comprehend technical forms.
Step 3: Attend Trade School & Apprenticeships
If you have met the requirements mentioned above, you can make the decision about how you’d like to receive your training to become an electrician. Either way, you must still complete an apprenticeship. Trade school is one of the options, and it provides you with hands-on training. Trade programs typically last two years. Apprenticeships can actually pay you while you learn and prepare to obtain your license.
Step 4: Become Licensed
Depending on the state you reside in, licensing requirements will vary when it comes to working as an electrician. Additionally, every state will charge fees. But, the good news is that there are various resources you can use to check out the requirements for your state. You may need to take and pass an electrical test first. This test usually consists of your knowledge of the National Electric Code.
Step 5: Find an Opening for an Electrician
Once you have received a license in your state to practice as an electrician, you can finally find a job and begin working. You may have already been presented with opportunities via your trade school or apprenticeship. If not, you can expect an additional 84,000 electrician jobs to be added per year up to 2030. This means your chances of landing your dream job as an electrician look very promising. If you are interested in a career as a commercial electrician, contact Box Electric today for more information.