How to Become an Apprentice Electrician

Training to become an electrician is one of the best career paths you can take. If you want a career that can be different every single day and challenge you, while providing ample opportunities to learn and experience new things, then you need to know how to become an apprentice electrician.

Becoming an apprentice electrician allows you to enter the trade and get into the field sooner without having to spend four years studying in college. So, if a career involving problem-solving, working to high standards, and being challenged every day appeals to you, read on.

This blog is going to dive into apprentice electrician requirements and get you on your way to a new career.

What Is An Apprentice Electrician?

An apprentice electrician is when a person works alongside an experienced electrician during a four or six-year apprenticeship to gain the relevant skills, knowledge, and experience they need to become a qualified electrician. It’s a training pathway into the electrical field, and is the perfect way to get going and learn electrical in the real world from the very beginning.

You will be earning a wage during this time, and as you progress through your apprenticeship, you can increase your earning potential as your skills and experience develop.

Apprentice Electrician Requirements

If you want to know how to become an electrician apprentice, then your journey needs to begin in high school. You need your high school diploma before you can consider taking on an apprenticeship.

If you don’t have your high school diploma, you must have your GED instead. On top of this, you need to be at least 18 years of age and be physically capable of doing the job at hand. Electricians will be required to work in a multitude of different environments and scenarios, including at ground level, above or even below it, so you need to be confident you can handle working in different environments before starting your apprenticeship.

Some apprenticeships might require you to take an aptitude test. At NTI, you don’t need any experience to get onto our electrical technician training program, and you can study on a schedule that works for you. You will receive training in a state-of-the-art electrical lab, and learn on-the-job skills to help you get the right electrical career.

Find An Apprenticeship for Electricians

The first step in becoming an apprentice electrician is finding a suitable apprenticeship program for you to enroll in. You can consider an electrical training program where you will work in both a classroom and a lab to help you develop the skills you need to be a fully qualified electrician. You will learn the fundamentals of electricity as well as electrical codes, technical knowledge, and safety skills to help you complete your job without risking your life.

You will learn in a safe and hands-on environment as you work through your training course to equip you with everything you need during your apprenticeship.

If you don’t want to learn in a classroom, finding an electrical sponsor for your apprenticeship is another alternative method to becoming an electrician apprentice.

There are many electricians across the country who take on and train new and upcoming electrical apprentices. Despite not being a classroom, these apprenticeships are regulated in the same way, and companies will need to adhere to state regulations regarding training.

You can find private apprenticeships by reaching out to companies, local unions, and career centers.

How Much Is An Electrician Apprenticeship?

The cost for training as an electrician apprentice can vary; some colleges and universities will charge a fee per year or semester or a one-time fee before you start the course. That being said, when you are working as an apprentice, you will receive a wage for the time you spend working.

If you choose other avenues of training, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you can expect to pay out more money for your training, and you will typically need to get an apprenticeship post-education to gain the relevant working experience to get your qualifications.

What Is Involved In An Electrician Apprenticeship?

When you enroll in an electrician apprenticeship, you can expect to spend the next four or six years training both in real-life environments and in a classroom.

Initially, you can expect to spend a few weeks observing electricians at work and getting a feel for what is involved in being an electrician. You will be taking in knowledge, learning best practices, and getting the basics in place before moving on to carrying out more practical aspects of the job role.

You can expect to learn the following skills during your apprenticeship;

• Inspecting and testing electrical equipment and components
• Reading blueprints for construction and electrical designs
• Ensuring all work meets national and state electrical codes
• Using specialist devices to identify problems and correct said problems.
• Learning how to install, maintain, and repair electrical equipment, wiring, lighting, and control systems.

You should expect to be tested frequently and thoroughly and be willing to learn and take feedback on board to help you successfully learn the trade and carry out any electrical work to the highest possible standards.

How Much Do Electricians Earn?

The average base salary for an electrician is $26.84 for those with under one year of experience rising to an average of $33.13 for experienced electricians with over 10 years of experience.

To obtain a fully qualified status and begin your career you will need to have completed a four-year apprenticeship with at least 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of hands-on experience to become an electrician.

Once you have completed these requirements you will need to look at what your local state board’s requirements are to get your electrician’s license and work as a fully qualified electrician. The length of experience will depend on the area you want to pursue i.e. commercial or residential electricians both will require different numbers of hours worked to qualify for your license. While to be a master electrician you will need to have completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering on top of your years of training as an apprentice.

Get Your Electrician Career Started at NTI

If you want to learn more about getting started as an apprentice electrician, contact us today to learn more about our electrical technical program and how you can enroll.