Electrician Apprenticeship Job Description: Requirements, Qualifications and Responsibilities

Did you ever wanted to fix socket problems? Are you a man of wires? Then working as an electrician is the job for you, but before being able to work with the top guns of the electrical industry, you have to sign up as an electrician’s apprentice. Learning to be an aspiring electrician is more of a hands-on experience. Electricians get most of their training by being apprentices. These apprentices develop their craft under the supervision of skilled electricians, such as licensed journeyman and master electricians . They are responsible for the complex wiring and circuitry that brings power to our homes.

Apprentice – Apprentices are electricians in training who are working their way to their certification and often work with close supervision from their higher-ups.

An electrician maintains a steady flow of electricity . He also ensures the wiring, the breakers’ containers, and everything related to the electrical needs of a building or home.

Electricians also have to take those baby steps in becoming master electricians. There are three stages of electricians working the fields, either working to complete their training and get their certification or to supervise those who they are working with.

Being an apprentice electrician is where it all starts . All of the big time electricians in the industry, all started out to be an apprentice . They gain knowledge by their superiors showing and telling them what to do. Don’t worry; you get paid to be an apprentice, pretty sweet right?

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Electrician Apprenticeship

The base hourly wage for a journeyman at the Northwest Line serving the Oregon, Washington and Idaho region was $50.72 as of February 2017. We will use this example, for every apprentice they earn a percentage of the superior’s wages. A first-step apprentice receives 60 percent of a journeyman’s wages, or approximately $30.43 per hour. The apprentice’s wages grow as he moves into each succeeding step in finishing his/her program . A second-step apprentice receives 63 percent of his superior’s wages, while a fourth-step apprentice receives 72 percent, and so and so forth.

If you are starting out as an apprentice electrician, wages are usually paid based on an hourly rate that you are working alongside with your superior. They are typically half of what a journeyman electrician earns, but there are some electrician apprenticeship jobs that start at the higher payout. In 2018, the average pay of a fully trained electrician in the is estimated to be $28.46 per hour. So an electrician’s apprentices probably earned about $13.62 per hour, which is the equivalent of annual salary of $28,330 for a year hard work. Sound’s good enough?

REQUIREMENTS

So are you interested in being an Apprentice Electrician and make your way towards being a Master? Are you willing to work in dangerous conditions for a high payout? Read the requirements of applying for an Apprenticeship and get started today!

In order to apply for an apprenticeship, aspiring electricians need to have completed a high school diploma or have and adequate GED equivalent. Apprenticeship programs are offered throughout a lot of technical-based or community colleges and organizations. Various government associations sponsor programs of apprenticeship across the respective sector. Try to ask what your agencies offer for apprenticeship and inquire to apply one as an electrician’s apprentice. Usually the programs last about for four years and it involves classroom education on mathematics, electrical coding and theories, but importantly, having knowledge on the principals of electrical installation, as well as specialized training.

SUMMARY

Apprentice Electricians typically learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship program which can last four years or more. In simple words, to be an Apprentice Electrician you are to apply for an Apprenticeship program in your state, keep in mind that each state has their own requirements.

After accomplishing 8,000 hours of apprenticeship work and graduating from an apprenticeship program, these entry-level electricians are required to become licensed by their state . The requirements of each state vary, but it always include a combination of education, experience and knowledge of electrical codes.

Electrician apprenticeship programs are most of the sponsored by the electrical industry and a few trade organizations. To be specific, Apprentices need to have at least one year education of algebra, additional mathematics, concepts of science and hands-on electrical activities in classes, such as those given in Physics class, are helpful. An apprentice electrician should be in good physical physique and lifestyle. There should be no medical conditions that may hinder in his tasks. He has to be drug-free and able to pass a qualifying exam to be verified.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following are the most important qualifications for being an electrician:

BECOME AN
APPRENTICE

Color Vision: Apprentice electricians will always be working with colored wirings and this is very important as each color designates a specific function.
Troubleshooting: Apprentice electricians must be able to locate the root cause of issues and think of possible solutions to address the problem.
Customer Service: Apprentice electricians must have a friendly approach with customers, as they work with various clients.
Critical Thinking: When diagnosing complicated problems, apprentice electricians must think fast and critically in the process of repairing the problem.
Mechanical Skills: Apprentice electricians read blueprints and schematics and use an array of tools and diagnostic devices to service and install electrical parts.

RESPONSIBILITIES


Apprentice electricians have a lot of responsibilities be mindful of when working in the field. Even though their superior is there to guide them, Apprentice Electricians will have a sense of being independence when working and should never forget the duties and responsibilities that they enforce while working.

1) Assemble, install, test, and maintain electrical components or electronic connections, wiring, apparatus, and fixtures, using the company issued tools.

2) Diagnose malfunctioning hardware, apparatus, and components, using test equipment and tools to find the root cause of the problem and propose a possible solution to fix the issue.

3) Connect wires to electrical components (circuit breakers, transformers, etc.)

4) Monitor electrical systems and components to identify possible hazards, defects, and malfunctions that need adjustments or repairs and to ensure safety guidelines.

5) Test electrical systems and electrical wiring, using testing devices to the ensure compatibility of the system and maximize safety.

6) Maintain an electrician’s license or identification card to show verification being a registered electrician and meet government regulations.

7) Plan a layout and installation of electrical wiring and equipment based on given job specifications and codes of the area.

8) Follow blueprints to ensure conformance with the building’s safety codes.