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Becoming an Electrician

From the time Benjamin Franklin sent up his kite in a thunderstorm, electricity has dominated our world. To appreciate this all you have to do is remember the last time you had a power-cut. Nothing worked. No heating, no light, no electric cooking, no refrigerator, no gadgetry and no modern entertainment. Electricity runs practically everything that’s important in our lives and when it malfunctions, somebody has to fix it, somebody who knows what they’re doing. An Electrician.

The job
Electricians install and maintain electrical services such as lighting, power and heating. They work in a wide range of buildings, including houses, offices, factories, hospitals and power stations. Work can take place both indoors and outdoors, such as on a building site and electricians often work alongside other skilled workers, such as plumbers, bricklayers and carpenters.

Installation electricians put in all the cables, wiring, meters, switchgear, conduit (metal channel for cable), fitments and equipment needed in new buildings and conversions of old buildings. In conversions of old buildings, electricians must first remove the old system and its wiring.

Service electricians repair faults in domestic and office environments. This involves locating and diagnosing faults, isolating circuits and making repairs and replacing components. Some faults can only be found when the supply is on, for example, faults within electronic circuits, so the electrician will use insulated tools and equipment to find the fault.

Maintenance electricians work in manufacturing and engineering companies, servicing and repairing electrical machines and equipment. They diagnose faults, repair electrical plant and equipment, and install new equipment. They might deal with a range of machines or specialise in one type.

The work of electricians involves measuring, cutting, joining and fitting cabling, using a variety of hand and power tools, like pliers, screwdrivers, hacksaws and drills. Electricians earth the system and then test it very thoroughly to make sure they have correctly and safely installed all the circuits. This involves the use of special meters.

Some of the work is non-electrical. Electricians plan their own work, often using computer software to design layouts and systems. They use technical drawings and plans that show which areas of the building need electricity. They interpret the instructions, deciding how to run cabling and where to place switches, sockets, lights and other devices. Part of the work also involves physical activity, such as lifting floorboards and drilling holes. Electricians also need to make sure they order the appropriate materials and equipment before they begin their work.

From domestic work to major engineering projects - the electrotechnical world provides a variety of jobs that few others can match. It is a diverse and exciting industry at the cutting-edge of installing, commissioning and maintaining technology in all types of building including:

• complex projects such as shopping, sports stadiums, hospitals and new housing projects.
• advanced data-cabling, data-handling systems and fibre-optic systems.
• computer controlled building management systems.
• renewable energy systems, like wind turbines and solar panels.
• control equipment for complex industrial manufacturing and processing.

The electrotechnical industry is professional, responsible and future proof. As an electrotechnical engineer you will have numerous choices regarding the type of work you do and the career progression route you take. It offers a guaranteed future, a full career path from school-leaver to professional qualifications, and good pay.

Qualities you need to be an electrician
If you want to be an electrician you must have good attention to detail. You’ll need the intelligence to work out complex equations, the expertise and flexibility to install different systems, the knowledge to understand how and why different systems work, the ability and initiative to solve problems, a thirst for knowledge of new technology, a creative mind, sound judgment and most importantly professionalism and honesty.

Electricians need to be able to read and interpret technical drawings, as well as follow safety procedures very carefully. As an electrician you must have practical skills because you will use a variety of tools and equipment. You will also need to be physically fit, because the job usually involves kneeling, bending and lifting heavy equipment and also a good head for heights. Good colour vision is also important, as is being able to drive.

Electricians also need good communication and interpersonal skills, to work well with other electricians and other professionals. You should be able to explain your work clearly to customers, reassure them with your knowledge, and have a calm, professional manner. Finally, you’ll need to be well organised, thorough and methodical and must enjoy seeing a job through from start to finish.

Electricity has the power to run things, but, it can also cause fires and kill people if misused. Electricians are highly skilled individuals with a lot of training and practical experience behind them. Before they go playing with a fuse box, or rewiring a house they have to know a lot about electrical power – the way it moves, how it does what it does, the math and physics behind it and a lot of other things. There’s a world of difference between plugging things in and being an electrician.

Being an electrician can be an immensely satisfying job. An electrician is a ‘people person’. Someone who makes things work and in the process makes peoples lives better and more comfortable.

The Qualifications
Whatever area of the industry electricians choose to work in, they must be suitably qualified and have extensive knowledge of the Building Regulations. The industry is highly regulated and the proper qualifications are essential to ensure electricians work lawfully and safely and don’t put the public’s safety at risk.

To gain employment with an electrical contracting firm you will need recognised qualifications. The industry standard is a City & Guilds NVQ level 3 in Electrotechnical Services.

Most youngsters entering the industry follow an apprenticeship route, leading to an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification). Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes involving theory and practical training at a college or vocational training provider, plus work based experience working with an electrician. The theory and workshop skills provide the Technical Certificate (part of the NVQ) while the work experience provides evidence of work-place competence in the form of a portfolio. These two things combined comprise the NVQ.

Unfortunately, NVQs and apprenticeships are only available to those in employment or working on-site, so if you are an adult career changer you may need to take an alternative route. To gain employment with an electrical contracting firm you will need a recognised qualification and be able to prove you have the knowledge and skills to carry out the basic electrical tasks competently. Although you cannot complete an NVQ until you work for an employer, you can get the Technical Certificate, which proves you have the underpinning knowledge (the theory) and the practical skills developed in the workshop. This is the main bulk of the NVQ and will prove your knowledge and competence to an employer.

Even if you don’t plan to work for an employer i.e. you plan to be your own boss, you should still study for and achieve the Technical Certificate. If you do, you can be certain you’ll learn what you need to know to do the job and to work safely. Then when you get a job or become self employed you can take the NVQ. Some of our courses offer the on-site work experience you will need to get your NVQ and if you want to be qualified and get a job in the industry you should give these very serious consideration.

In addition to the technical certificate and/or the NVQ you’ll also want to get the following qualifications. Firstly to ensure you have a thorough understanding and the skills to do the job and secondly to demonstrate to an employer that you are able to work safely and lawfully.

• Part P (full scope)
• Essential Electrics
• City & Guilds 2382 (17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations)
• City & Guilds 2377 (Portable Appliance Testing)
• A CSCS (Site Safety) Card

Even if you don’t plan to work for an employer i.e. you plan to be your own boss, you must still get these qualifications to ensure you know how to do the job and so you can work safely and lawfully. See the section below for more information.

What industry (and the law) wants
If you want a career as an electrician, you’ll need to get the right training and qualifications recognised by industry and required by law. Here’s the low-down on what you’ll need:
 

If You Want To:	You Will Need:
Lawfully work as an electrician and be allowed to test, inspect and certificate your completed domestic electrical installation works in accordance with regulations	To obtain your Domestic Installer Certificate Part P Full Scope qualification and apply for registration with an approved Part P registration provider.
Understand basic electrical principles and safe isolation techniques	To undertake and obtain your Essential Electrics certificate
Work on electrical apparatus operating up to 1000 volts in industrial/commercial and domestic premises and formally demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of current Electrical Regulations (the industry standard)	To prove that you are conversant with the format, content and the application of BS 7671: 2008 as amended by getting your City & Guilds 2382 (17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations) certificate. The 2382 is usually an entry requirement to join a Part P Competent Persons scheme.
Undertake portable appliance testing	To get your City & Guilds 2377 (Portable Appliance Testing) certificate.
Work on construction and building sites i.e. new housing developments.	A CSCS card. The is known as your “Site Safety Card”

Formal recognition of your knowledge and skills	A recognised qualification. The National standard, recommended by the Sector Skills Council and recognised by employers and industry is the City & Guilds 2330 (Electro-Technical certificate in electrical installation). This is also the pre-requisite to getting the NVQ.
Demonstrate site-based competence in electrical installation works	C&G 2356 – NVQ Level 2/3 in electrical Installation
	City & Guilds 2360 Part 2 (Electrical Installation Competencies) Certificate
Inspect, test and certificate both commercial and domestic electrical installation works.	City & Guilds 2391 (Inspection, Testing and Certification) certificate.

What can qualified electricians earn?
Forget the stories of earning £100,000+ a year. The average electrician employed by a company will earn in the region of £30,000 after a couple of years experience. A self-employed electrician can earn a lot more. What you earn depends on how much time and effort you put in. If you are working 12 hour shifts six or seven days a week of course you will earn a lot more and £70,000 is achievable.

On the other hand, electrical engineering is a very good trade to learn if you have commitments such as children - if you are a mother doing the school run, or have to be home at a certain time as your partner is still out working, you can fit jobs in around your lifestyle.

What’s Your Future as an electrician?
Right now there is a significant shortage of qualified electricians and because of continued building expansion and redevelopment this is an area which requires one of the highest numbers of new workers in the construction sector. So prospects for those entering the industry are expected to be excellent.

 Because electrical services have such a widespread and diverse range of application there are also many opportunities to specialise. For example:

• Installation electrician: An installation electrician is responsible for installing and commissioning modern electrical systems within buildings. This can include power, lighting, fire protection, security and structure cabling.
• Maintenance electrician: Maintenance electricians ensure that modern electrical systems and the equipment they serve run effectively and efficiently.
• Electrotechnical panel builder: An electrotechnical panel builder uses programmable logic controllers and information technology to build and manage the electrical control panels that ultimately control a building’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
• Instrumentation electrician: The job of instrumentation electrician involves commissioning, testing, fault finding and repairing of building environmental control systems, such as large air conditioning units, heating and refrigeration.
• Electrical machine repairer and rewinder: Skilled electrical machine repair and rewind specialists are required to repair and maintain equipment and machinery such as transformers, compressors, pumps and fans within buildings.
• Highway electrical systems electrician: Highway electrical systems play an important part in our everyday lives; trained highway electrical systems electricians ensure that our street lighting, including traffic management systems, are continuously managed and maintained to a high standard.

Some electricians also progress to consultancy, teaching and management, making electrotechnical services a career with a real future. Once qualified, being an electrician can also be a passport to work all over the world.