Оne of the most profitable specialties in the construction field

Electrician’s helper course at American General Training – your best start to Electrician field

What is an Electrician?

Electricians know the ins and outs of designing lighting systems, installing street lights and intercom systems, ensuring electrical work is up to code and repairing electrical wiring. Electricians must go through at least four years of training as an apprentice, followed by the licensing their state requires. Most in the profession specialize in either designing, installing, maintaining and repairing the motors, equipment and electrical systems of businesses and factories or installing, maintaining and repairing the electrical systems of residences.

“I like to work on projects that have complex systems, such as water and wastewater treatment facilities,” says Ryan Lee, a journeyman electrician and crew leader with the Ohio-based company Claypool Electric. “I am kind of a perfectionist, and these types of facilities require a great deal of accuracy to ensure that tasks are done accurately.”

There are other subsets, like electricians who specialize in iron and steel mills, or electricians who coordinate the lighting for a motion picture or television program. Installing alternative energy sources in homes and businesses requires coordination with electricians, and these professionals are still needed to maintain older electrical systems. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.9 percent employment growth for electricians between 2016 and 2026. In that period, an estimated 59,600 jobs should open up.

What Type of Education Do Electricians Need?

The job of an electrician is physically demanding and can be very dangerous if it’s not done correctly. That’s why a good training program is imperative. Some choose to attend a technical school before entering their apprenticeship program, although this isn’t required. And most program entrants are at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. However, not everyone enters the field at a young age.

Martin Messerly, another employee with Claypool Electric who had previously worked nearly three decades as a journeyman mean cutter, says, “I never knew there would be a way for me to become a state-certified journeyman electrician at this point in my life. I always thought that it was something that you had to do right out of high school. Now, I just finished my fourth year of apprenticeship training, and with a few more [on-the-job training] hours, I will be a state-certified journeyman electrician.”