An Electrician designs, plans, installs, repairs, and maintains electrical systems in homes, commercial buildings, industrial complexes, and retail buildings.
JOB TASKS
- Plan new systems & upgrade older systems, wiring, receptacles and light fixtures.
- Install fiber optic systems, fire alarms, security and data systems.
- Install, troubleshoot and repair motors, generators, pumps, solar arrays, and Electric Vehicle Charging systems.
All Electricians start their careers as apprentices. Once you have established yourself, there are a lot of opportunities for advancement – to positions such as foreperson, superintendent, estimator or electrical inspector, or you may want to start your own contracting business.
REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Download the Electrician Tradecard
To be successful in their trade, Electricians need:
- Critical thinking /problem solving skills
- Good and clear communication
- Physically fit & able to lift 11 to 25 kilograms
- Work at heights and confined spaces
- Work outside regardless of weather
- Team player & work well with others towards a common goal
- Willing to learn
- Do very precise work expertly
- Mechanical aptitude & manual dexterity
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
An IBEW apprenticeship for a Construction Electrician is based on a five (5) year training program, including a minimum of 9000 hours of technical training and on-the-job training. The preferred entry method into an apprenticeship is with graduation from a recognized Electrical Foundation (ELTT) program.
Recommended prerequisites to apply for an electrical foundation (ELTT) program are:
– English 12
– Pre-Calculus
– Math 11
– Physics 11
– Grade 12 Completion
www.ejtc.org
Contact the Electrical Joint Training Committee for more information on Electrician Apprenticeship Training.
www.bcbuildingtrades.org
Visit the BC Building Trades for information on Electricians and download other Tradecards.
www.skillplan.ca
Are you ready for a career in the trades? Learn what Essential Skills are needed for the trades.
SkillPlan Blog 
My cousin recently decided he wanted to become a licensed electrician. He is registered at our local trade school to take a couple of classes. What are some things you would suggest to help him prepare to be an electrical student?
Hi Paige, Your cousin should brush up on math and science. Topics relating to the electrician trade are:
Math:
• Whole numbers
• Integers
• Fractions
• Decimals
• Order of Operations
• Percent
• Exponents
• Equations and Formulae (Ohm’s Law, Power Laws)
• Ratio and Proportion
• Imperial and Metric measurement
• Geometry
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Trigonometry
• Vectors
• Summary Calculations (average, median, mode)
Science:
• Properties of Common Materials
• Work, Power and Energy
• Simple Machines
o Mechanical Advantage
o Gear Ratios
o Pulley Systems
• Magnetism
SkillPlan offers publications covering these topics in Measurement and Calculation for the Trades and Science for the Trades.
Or there are free websites such as Khan Academy.
Great sharing! such very Intresting and helpful to who want to learn about Electrician? well done,Good sharing by blogger
great article ….here i would like to add the favorable workplace for an electrician depending on their area of specialty, electricians work either indoors or outdoors year round. In either case, their work is often labour intensive and requires manual physical manipulation of electrical wiring, cabling conduit and, Electricianrin some cases, even telephone wire. A growing number of electricians gain competency in several types of electrical work, allowing them to work both indoors and outdoors.