When it comes to pursuing a career as an electrician, there are four specialty areas to choose from. These titles include external linemen, in-house wiring engineers, installation technicians, and residential cablers. To become an official electrician, there are three levels of certification: apprentice, officer and master electrician. After completing an apprenticeship program and meeting all the requirements, you can take the exam to receive your license from the local, state, or federal licensing group.
The highest level of electrical certification is Master Electrician, with requirements that vary from state to state. Master electricians work on the most complex commercial and industrial projects and have the necessary experience to train day laborer electricians to do the same. Job training combines learning with formal instruction in the classroom, under the supervision of an electrical officer or teacher. You'll also need to pass tests at the state level once you've completed your internship program.
Working with an electrician staffing agency like Elite Force has a number of benefits for apprentices, officers, and master electricians in industrial and commercial fields. From great salaries and benefits to consistent work opportunities no matter where in the U. S., these agencies provide a great opportunity for those looking to pursue a career in electrical work. Commercial electricians have more complex functions than residential electricians.
They work in larger, commercial buildings such as offices, schools and shopping malls. They install, maintain, and repair electrical components and complete wiring systems following the necessary safety precautions. To work as a commercial electrician, you must complete your apprentice training in commercial environments. Industrial electricians install and repair electrical systems in power plants, chemical plants, factories and mines. These industrial facilities have more sophisticated electrical equipment and need an electrician with extensive experience.
To start, you'll work with an experienced industrial electrician through an internship program. Maintenance electricians work in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. They review the safety of electrical systems and ensure that they are working properly. As a maintenance electrician, you can test, troubleshoot, and diagnose electrical problems as well as repair or replace electrical equipment. Maintenance electricians require formal apprenticeships and must have an electrician's license to work independently. Wind turbines are another alternative source of electricity.
As a wind turbine electrician, your job is to assemble, maintain, repair and replace wind turbines. You will install the wiring system and connect them to electrical devices in industrial, commercial and residential areas. Assembling, maintaining and repairing a wind turbine involves climbing more than 200 feet above the ground. Maintenance electricians ensure the safe and efficient operation of large, critical electrical systems in plants and factories in accordance with local and national codes. They also repair programmable logic functions although they have virtually the same tasks as residential and commercial electricians but while working on low-voltage systems usually no more than 49 volts. Residential electricians are primarily responsible for updating, maintaining, installing or repairing the electrical system in residential homes.
The responsibilities of commercial electricians include installing, maintaining and repairing wiring in commercial environments often with higher-voltage lines. These electricians are often called in to update the wiring of large appliances or install security systems in offices to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Industrial electricians often work as a team and must be able to familiarize themselves with computer systems and components of large machinery to perform the type of work that these operations require. They are primarily responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing and designing electrical systems to adapt to new machinery or for updating wiring to comply with safety codes as they change. Maintenance electricians are often employed by factories or plants that must ensure that all their equipment is operating efficiently. Like industrial electricians they have a specialized license that allows them to operate and work with industrial equipment. Maintenance electricians outside linemen and industrial electricians are considered some of the highest-paid electricians today yet their working conditions are not often envied.
These technicians must also be willing to assume a certain level of risk that comes with working in these environments beyond the risk involved in working with electricity.
