5 answers
AJ
Student
Antwerp, Ohio
2
Questions
Asked
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What education and certificate do you need to bean electrican?
I'm a sophomore in high school. I have no experience but want to be an electrician after high school.
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5 answers
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
394
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi AJ:
It'll be best to check with the Academic Advisor/School Counselor at your high school for information to pursue a career as an Electrician. Another recommendation is to check out local community colleges or technical schools for education and certificate requirements to become an Electrician. The staff can provide information on course work, financial aid, etc.
According to Niche.com, here are the best community, 2 year colleges with Electrician Degrees in Ohio:
- Collins Career Technical Center
- Owens Community College
- Sinclair Community College
- Northwest State Community College
- Marion Technical College
- Ohio Business College - Sheffield
- Mid-East Career and Technology Center
- Apollo Career Center
https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-electrician/s/ohio/
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
Scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. Scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
The average salary for an electrician is between $29-$31 per hour. This translates to be around $60,000-$65,000 per year. Annual salary will be determined on location, skill set, education and experience.
Depending on career progression, here are some compensation levels:
Apprentice Electrician - $21 per hour
Junior Electrician - $22 per hour
Senior Electrician - $31 per hour
Journeyperson Electrician = $32 per hour
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a further breakdown of the average salary for an Electrician:
https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/electrician/salary
Hope this helps and best wishes for your education and career as an Electrician!
It'll be best to check with the Academic Advisor/School Counselor at your high school for information to pursue a career as an Electrician. Another recommendation is to check out local community colleges or technical schools for education and certificate requirements to become an Electrician. The staff can provide information on course work, financial aid, etc.
According to Niche.com, here are the best community, 2 year colleges with Electrician Degrees in Ohio:
- Collins Career Technical Center
- Owens Community College
- Sinclair Community College
- Northwest State Community College
- Marion Technical College
- Ohio Business College - Sheffield
- Mid-East Career and Technology Center
- Apollo Career Center
https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-electrician/s/ohio/
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
Scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. Scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
The average salary for an electrician is between $29-$31 per hour. This translates to be around $60,000-$65,000 per year. Annual salary will be determined on location, skill set, education and experience.
Depending on career progression, here are some compensation levels:
Apprentice Electrician - $21 per hour
Junior Electrician - $22 per hour
Senior Electrician - $31 per hour
Journeyperson Electrician = $32 per hour
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a further breakdown of the average salary for an Electrician:
https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/electrician/salary
Hope this helps and best wishes for your education and career as an Electrician!
Michael Reeves
I was a GM for 20+ years in the Restaurant business
4
Answers
Wauseon, Ohio
Updated
Michael’s Answer
AJ find a Electrical company that will hire you on as an 'tender" and be willing to do anything they need. Learn the trade and stick with it. Four county schools might have a class with that in the trades courses check them out.
Dominic Wragg
Electrician
4
Answers
Morrisville, North Carolina
Updated
Dominic’s Answer
There are two paths you can take to be an electrician. You can find a company to sponsor you as an electrician helper and eventually have them send you through schooling or you can find an approved apprenticeship program and apply to it. If you go through a company the qualifications you get will more than likely only be good at the company and they will groom you to their needs. You will not need any certification other than what they require and provide. If you go through an apprenticeship, you will be taking a curriculum of courses to cover all aspects of your chosen progression and will probably be placed in a company for on the job training. This route will give you formalized training that can be easily transfered to most companies.
Do a search to find local apprenticeship programs.
Apply for electrical helper positions.
In either case educate yourself using ElectrcianU or engineering mindset on youtube.
Dominic recommends the following next steps:
Eric Wissenbach
Electrical Contractor
1
Answer
Bushnell, Florida
Updated
Eric’s Answer
This is a little location specific.
In Florida, the two best ways are to go to the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and ask about becoming an apprentice. In Ohio they have a large footprint than here so I think this would be your best option. If that does not work out, there are non-union apprenticeships where they will give you a job and pay for all or part of your training. Usually through their own program in cooperation with a local community college. (I did this option and own my own company now). Independent Electrical Contractors Association is a Merit-Shop(non-union) based organization with chapters across the country. I believe some of their curriculum is online based now too.
Apprentice programs are usually overseen by the state, so check your state to ensure its a legitimate apprentice program. It looks like Ohio has a website called ApprenticeOhio (https://jfs.ohio.gov/job-services-and-unemployment/job-services/job-programs-and-services/apprentice-ohio/apprentice-ohio) which would be a good resource.
The last option is to simply jump in and find a job as a helper or green hand. If you show willingness to learn and good work ethic you would be surprised how far you can go in the trades. Education is still important if you want to be really successful though so read on your own or do online courses. Mike Holt has a lot of good educational material.
In Florida, the two best ways are to go to the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and ask about becoming an apprentice. In Ohio they have a large footprint than here so I think this would be your best option. If that does not work out, there are non-union apprenticeships where they will give you a job and pay for all or part of your training. Usually through their own program in cooperation with a local community college. (I did this option and own my own company now). Independent Electrical Contractors Association is a Merit-Shop(non-union) based organization with chapters across the country. I believe some of their curriculum is online based now too.
Apprentice programs are usually overseen by the state, so check your state to ensure its a legitimate apprentice program. It looks like Ohio has a website called ApprenticeOhio (https://jfs.ohio.gov/job-services-and-unemployment/job-services/job-programs-and-services/apprentice-ohio/apprentice-ohio) which would be a good resource.
The last option is to simply jump in and find a job as a helper or green hand. If you show willingness to learn and good work ethic you would be surprised how far you can go in the trades. Education is still important if you want to be really successful though so read on your own or do online courses. Mike Holt has a lot of good educational material.
Brian Dittman
Electrical Specialist
3
Answers
Kissimmee, Florida
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Hey AJ!
15 Year Electrician Here, so I hope I can answer your question to the best of my ability. Of course my response will be based around being a commercial/maintenance electrician so please use all resources available to you to fit the dreams you wish to fulfill.
As far as beginning your career on becoming an electrician we tend to just join the trade right out of high school, the reason for this is usually it's a "learn on the job" kind of career. Now the best paths you can choose would hopefully lead you into an apprenticeship type program. From my personal experience I would say that I started with the IBEW Union (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and started with their Residential track with the goal to join their Apprenticeship program. Their apprenticeship program at the time was 5 years long and they not only paid for your education but paid you while you attended the classes (at the very least, in the Washington DC Local). It was a fantastic program and really set me up for the career path I have today. As I write this response they top out at their journeyman level at $116,000 per year with benefits.
I don't know where you are based, because obviously pay scales can be crazy different depending on what you wish to focus on, non union/union, state, etc.
But anyways, after you do some sort of apprenticeship program you would want to move into getting your licenses. Again, each state/county can be different but for my state you are required to have 8000 OJT (On Job Training) and Class time to get your licenses.
I think your nearest local is IBEW 129 if you wish to look into the union route and they currently top out at $82,000 per year with benefits. Included is the webpage if you wish to find more information!
https://www.ibew129.org/
15 Year Electrician Here, so I hope I can answer your question to the best of my ability. Of course my response will be based around being a commercial/maintenance electrician so please use all resources available to you to fit the dreams you wish to fulfill.
As far as beginning your career on becoming an electrician we tend to just join the trade right out of high school, the reason for this is usually it's a "learn on the job" kind of career. Now the best paths you can choose would hopefully lead you into an apprenticeship type program. From my personal experience I would say that I started with the IBEW Union (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and started with their Residential track with the goal to join their Apprenticeship program. Their apprenticeship program at the time was 5 years long and they not only paid for your education but paid you while you attended the classes (at the very least, in the Washington DC Local). It was a fantastic program and really set me up for the career path I have today. As I write this response they top out at their journeyman level at $116,000 per year with benefits.
I don't know where you are based, because obviously pay scales can be crazy different depending on what you wish to focus on, non union/union, state, etc.
But anyways, after you do some sort of apprenticeship program you would want to move into getting your licenses. Again, each state/county can be different but for my state you are required to have 8000 OJT (On Job Training) and Class time to get your licenses.
I think your nearest local is IBEW 129 if you wish to look into the union route and they currently top out at $82,000 per year with benefits. Included is the webpage if you wish to find more information!
https://www.ibew129.org/