About Electrians

Electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining electrical systems in homes, businesses and factories.  This can be a very rewarding career for people who like to work with their hands.  However, it is also important to understand that there are some very big responsibilities that also come with these jobs.

What Electricians Do

Electricians are responsible for providing homes and businesses with electricity.  They install and maintain wiring, fuses and electrical outlets.  Factories will oftentimes employ electricians to install and maintain electrical machinery.  Regardless of where they work, electricians must be able to read blueprints.  Electricians have to use both hand tools (i.e. screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers) and power tools (i.e. drills, saws) in their work.

Becoming An Electrician

To begin with, it is important to understand that there are 3 types of electricians: construction (responsible for installing wiring in new construction), maintenance (responsible for inspecting, repairing and replacing wiring) and factory (responsible for installing, troubleshooting and performing maintenance on generators, motors and machinery).  Most electricians will only focus on one of these areas but some will work in both the construction and maintenance fields.  In order to become one of these types of electricians you must receive training through apprenticeship programs, which are a combination of classroom learning and on-the-job training.  They must then become licensed before they can get a job.  Once you become an electrician you must follow the National Electrical Codes, as well as both state and local codes.  This is not only for their safety but also for the safety of the public.  It is important to understand here that electricity can be very dangerous whenever it is not handled properly.  The most dangerous hazard comes in the form of electrical shock, which can be fatal.  For this reason, electricians must know the safety rules that are involved with working with electricity.  Other job hazards include injuries from cuts and falls.

There are also some electricians that work for government facilities instead of in the private sector are required to be certified as a Master Electrician.  This requires a minimum of 7 years working in the field and possibly a Bachelors Degree in some related field.