Electrician

Electricians install, alter, repair and maintain electrical systems designed to provide heat, light, power, control, signal or fire alarms for all types of buildings, structures, and premises.

In general, Electricians:

• read and interpret electrical, mechanical, and architectural drawings and electrical code specifications to determine wiring layouts
• cut, thread, bend, assemble, and install conduits and other types of electrical conductor enclosures and fittings
• pull wire through conduits and holes in walls and floors
• position, maintain and install distribution and control equipment such as switches, relays, circuit breaker panels, and fuse enclosures
• install data cabling
• splice, join and connect wire to form circuits, and test circuits to ensure integrity and safety
• install and maintain fiber optic systems.

Some Electricians specialize in specific types of installations:

• residential (housing developments)
• commercial (office buildings)
• institutional (hospitals)
• industrial (plants, factories)

Further, Electricians may be involved in construction or maintenance, or do a variety of electrical work.  Electricians usually work a 40-hour, five-day week plus overtime when required.  Especially in construction, there may be no guarantee of permanent work.  Working conditions can change dramatically from one job to another, varying from indoors in clean conditions to outdoors on scaffolding, to indoors in cramped conditions.

There is some risk of injury from accidental electrical shock.

Qualifications

To be successful in the trade, Electricians need:

• good communication and reading skills
• ability in mathematics
• mechanical ability, strength and manual dexterity 
• the ability to distinguish colours to work with colour-coded wiring
• the ability to work at heights
• the ability to lift between 11 and 25 kilograms
• the ability to get along well with co-workers 
• a willingness to keep up with new developments in the field
• to be creative (find new ways of doing things)
• to do very precise work expertly 
• to work at a variety of exciting tasks

Those who install or maintain equipment in existing homes or businesses also must be neat, friendly and able to deal with customers courteously. 

In Alberta, the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act requires that anyone working as an Electrician be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyman or hold a recognized trade certificate.  To enter the Electrician apprenticeship program, the applicant must have an Alberta High School Diploma with a passing mark in Math 20 or 23 or Pure Math 20 or Applied Math 20 and at least 10 credits in a science, or equivalent (or pass an entrance exam), and find an appropriate employer who is willing to hire and train an apprentice.  Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.  Courses in english, mathematics and physics are particulary important.

To register, the apprentice and the employer complete an application form together and submit it to the closest Apprenticeship and Industry Training office located at most Alberta Career Development Centres and Canada Alberta Service Centres.

Once the application is approved, a contract is drawn up and signed by the apprentice and the employer.

The term of apprenticeship is four years (four 12 month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training in each of the first three years.  The fourth period requires a minimum of 1350 hours of on-the-job training and 12 weeks of classroom training.  An applicant who previously completed courses of study or work experience related to the electrician trade or holds a related journeyman certificate and has the employer's recommendation, may qualify for credit that could reduce the term of apprenticeship.

Employment and Advancement

Electricians work for construction and maintenance contractors, manufacturers, resource companies, and other large organizations.  Electricians in the construction industry may experience layoffs between projects and when the industry is in a slump.  They must be willing to go where the work exists.  Membership in a trade union is voluntary; however, some contractors employ only union people.

Electricians may advance to positions such as foreman, superintendent, estimator, or electrical inspector. Some electricians start their own contracting businesses. Journeymen electricians, who wish to obtain certification in the instrument mechanic trade, and have an employer's recommendation, may apply for credit toward the apprenticeship.  Other related occupations include appliance serviceman, communication electrician, electrical rewind mechanic, electronic technician, elevator constructor, power lineman, power system electrician, electrical maintenance technician, instrument mechanic and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic.

For more information about the Electrican Apprenticeship program please contact Trades and Manufacturing at Red Deer College 403.342.3100 or Apprenticeship and Industry Training 403.340.5151.

You can also find more information at www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca.