1. What is an electrician?
An electrician is a skilled man or woman who installs and repairs power supplies for buildings, homes, equipment, and lines. The electrical field offers a variety of opportunities for career success.
2. Why should I go to electrical school?
Because working with electricity can be dangerous, the trade requires a license. There are two types of licenses you can obtain: master and journeyman. The highest level of licensing is Master Electrician, and they are considered experts in this field. Master electricians can work completely independently. The Journeyman license is at the level below; This role still requires some supervision.
But before you can work partially or completely on your own, you must be trained through an apprenticeship or school program. At this point in your career, before obtaining your Journeyman license, you will be considered a Registered Electrical Apprentice.
Find local electrical programs.
3. What is vocational training?
Vocational training is an alternative form of training. Instead of undertaking a school programme, you can apply for an apprenticeship and learn the trade from a qualified electrician.
Apprenticeships have little to no cost, and you get paid while you learn. There are usually a limited number of opportunities available for trainees as this field is highly competitive. In addition, it takes approximately four years to complete vocational training.
Read: What you need to know about apprenticeships
4. How long will electrical training take?
Trade School: Training to become an electrician at a trade school can get you ready to work as a registered electrician’s apprentice Less than 10 months!
Apprenticeship: Again, if you start an apprenticeship rather than attending a school program, your training will take about four years. You will complete 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of work experience for each year of training.
5. How much will electrical school cost?
Tuition fees will vary by school and training program, but you can expect a range from $749 to about $25,000.
6. Do electrical schools offer financial aid?
Yes! Financial aid and student loans may be available to those who qualify, reducing the overall cost of school and reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
7. What do the courses in the Electricity program look like?
In both school and vocational training programmes, you will have written work combined with practical training. In your core classes, you’ll cover things like electrical theory, load calculations, and more.
Read: What is an electrical training program?
8. Is online training available?
There are some schools offering online electrical training programs, and more schools are making the temporary or permanent switch to online education.
9. What are the requirements for electrical school?
To begin a training program, many schools will require you to have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. No prior experience is required to register!
After training, you will work as a registered electrician apprentice until you have enough hours to meet Journeyman requirements and obtain your license.
10. What is the cost of an electrical license?
After you have 8,000 hours of work experience, you can apply for and take the state-approved electrical licensing exam. Your training program is designed to prepare you for the exam.
Electrical inspection fees range from $30 to $75. License fees vary slightly, ranging from $30 to $300.
11. What jobs are available after electrical training?
As an electrician, you can choose to work in the residential and/or commercial fields. You can become a lineman and work outside power lines. Other electrical career options include electrical systems technicians and electrical engineers.
Read: What’s the Difference: Inside Wiremen, Outside Wiremen, and Electricians
12. How much do electricians earn?
In 2023, electrical workers earned an average annual wage of $67,810 (bls.gov). The top 10% earned $104,180. (bls.gov)
Reference: BLS
