Electricity is essential to modern living, powering homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Electricians, who build and maintain electrical systems, are equally essential. Their skilled work ensures that people can use electricity to heat and cool their homes, do their jobs, store their food, communicate, and travel.
Demand for electricians is on the rise in the U.S., fueled by a combination of factors. The increasing number of new residential and commercial construction projects along with growing efforts to transition to clean energy are chief among them.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 allocated hundreds of billions of dollars to enhancing the country’s energy infrastructure, including providing tax incentives for energy-saving home upgrades as well as the construction of a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations. There will be a need for electricians to install and upgrade these systems, likely creating numerous job opportunities.
With demand for electricians growing, many individuals may be wondering how long it takes to train to become an electrician. While the amount of time it takes may depend on a person’s location, professional background, and other factors, vocational training can be highly beneficial to aspiring electricians and may offer them an expedited path to this rewarding career.
What Does an Electrician Do?
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems that power appliances, machinery, lights, and other utilities in people’s homes and businesses, along with a myriad of other applications.
Electricians have a wide range of responsibilities, which may vary to some degree based on the specific sector an electrician is employed in. The work of residential electricians, for example, differs from that of commercial or industrial electricians.
However, electricians share many common duties that generally include the following:
Installing, maintaining, and fixing or replacing electrical systems, including wiring, control, and lighting systems
Analyzing blueprints and technical diagrams
Inspecting electrical components, such as transformers and circuit breakers, and troubleshooting issues
Adhering to state and local building regulations based on the National Electrical Code
An electrician’s job description may also depend on the level of seniority they’ve achieved. Journey-level electricians, often referred to as journeymen, perform many standard duties associated with electricians. Master electricians carry out many of the same duties and also can perform tasks that require more advanced expertise. They may also train and oversee journeymen electricians.
Electrician Career Path: Steps and How Long It Takes
The length of time it takes to become an electrician will depend on the precise route an individual takes to get there. However, aspiring electricians can expect the process to take two to six years, including time spent in a training program and completing an apprenticeship. The most common path to becoming an electrician involves the following steps:
1. Earn a High School Diploma or Equivalent
Electricians generally need to have at least a high school diploma or an equivalent credential, such as a General Educational Development (GED) diploma.
2. Pursue Vocational Training
Though not always required, receiving training at a trade or technical school can be advantageous to prospective electricians, providing them with opportunities to develop the foundational knowledge and hone the vital electrical skills they will need to succeed. Students in these programs learn about basic wiring, cabling, circuits, and grounding and hone their ability to read complex documents, such as electrical schematic drawings.
How Long Is an Electrician Training Program?
The length of electrical trade school programs varies. An associate degree-level program generally takes around two years to complete.
Diploma or certificate programs typically take one year or less to complete. For example, Fortis’ Electrical Trades diploma program can be completed in as little as 48 weeks.
3. Gain Practical Experience Through an Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are an essential step in becoming an electrician. They typically take four to five years to complete, which translates to approximately 8,000 to 10,000 hours of paid on-the-job training as well as some technical instruction. Some states require fewer hours, allowing individuals to complete their apprenticeship in only two years.
Students in a vocational training program may be able to begin an apprenticeship while they are still in the program. Regardless of its length, an apprenticeship allows an individual to gain invaluable hands-on experience and develop important skills under the tutelage of an experienced electrician. Several types of groups, including unions and contractor associations, sponsor electrician apprenticeships.
4. Earn Licensure
Most states require electricians to be licensed, though specific requirements vary by state. Earning a license involves passing a test containing questions related to the National Electrical Code as well as state and local electrical codes. Continuing education may be required for electricians to maintain their licensure.
Benefits of Becoming an Electrician
Pursuing training and an apprenticeship to become an electrician has numerous advantages. Government and industry forecasts point to a positive employment outlook for electricians in the years ahead. But the benefits of becoming an electrician extend beyond just landing a job.
Strong Hiring Forecast
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of electricians will grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032, with an expected average of about 73,500 job openings each year over that period. The BLS cites the increasing proliferation of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as one of the factors driving employment growth for electricians.
Electricians also enjoy a diverse array of job opportunities. Their skills are needed by a wide range of employers, in both the public and private sectors.
Opportunity for Advancement
Receiving training, completing an apprenticeship, and earning a license qualify individuals for entry-level work as a residential, commercial, or industrial electrician. Those seeking further advancement can pursue the role of master electrician. Master electricians generally have supervisory responsibilities, overseeing journeymen electricians and apprentices, and can take on more complex projects.
Becoming a master electrician typically requires several years of experience as a journeyman electrician as well as an additional license. While the time investment to become a master electrician is considerable, advancing to this level often comes with greater autonomy and earning potential.
Self-Employment Prospects
Another perk of becoming an electrician is the opportunity for self-employment, either as an independent contractor or as the owner of a small business. Self-employment can provide electricians with greater career freedom, enabling them to set their own hours, project schedules, and rates. Self-employed electricians also may be able to take advantage of tax write-offs for their business expenses.
Join the Future of Energy Generation as an Electrician
Americans set a record for electricity consumption in 2022, using about 4.07 trillion kilowatt hours — which is 14 times more than was used in 1950, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. With energy consumption at an all-time high and a growing emphasis on alternative energy generation, electricians are as essential today as they have ever been, which makes this an excellent time to start a career in this field.
The Fortis Electrical Trades program, offered on the Fortis Institute campus in Birmingham, Alabama, can set you on the path to meaningful employment as an electrician. In the program, you will learn how to work safely with high-voltage applications, explore concepts like simple atom and magnetic theory and the process of electrical production, and hone foundational skills to help you succeed as an electrician now and in the future.
Fortis also offers an Electrical Systems Technician program at its New Jersey campuses in Lawrenceville and Wayne. This in-demand program focuses on working with low-voltage electronic systems such as alarm and telecommunication systems.
Discover how Fortis can prepare you for a skilled trade career today.
Recommended Readings
Industrial Electrician: Job Description, Requirements, and Outlook
Electrical Careers: Commercial, Industrial, and Residential
HVAC vs. Electrician: Comparing Career Paths