With the average traditional four-year college degree taking 5.5 years or more to complete, more and more people are choosing to go to trade schools and apprenticeship programs that prepare students for employment after training.

One option is to become an electrician, which offers a competitive salary and many job opportunities once licensed.

However, becoming a licensed electrician is not an easy task. It requires study, years of apprenticeship or schooling, and years of written work experience to become licensed.

In this blog, we'll discuss how to become an electrician so you can take the steps to pursue your career dreams.

How to Become an Electrician: 5 Steps

How to Become an Electrician: 5 Steps

Electrical work is hard work and can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. That's why it's so important to have extensive training and experience working under a licensed contractor before you can get your independent work permit. Here are the 5 steps you need to take to become an electrician

1. Make sure it's what you want

Before starting your journey, it's important to thoroughly research what it means to become an electrician.

The last thing you want to do is spend years working toward your goal, only to find out that you don't enjoy the work.

Talk to other electricians, shadow them if possible, and make sure that this is something you can see yourself doing for many years to come.

2. Are you qualified?

In order to begin the journey of becoming an electrician, you need to make sure that you are qualified for the job.

The following are the basic qualifications for a career as an electrician：

• - Be at least 18 years old
• - Have a high school diploma or GED
• - Be in good physical condition
• - Have reliable transportation to school and work
• - Able to work independently and in a group
• - Able to follow instructions

3. Apply for trade school or apprenticeship training

The next step in becoming an electrician is to apply for training. You have two options: trade school or apprenticeship.

Trade schools will be held on campus with labs to teach you hands-on skills and training. This is a great option for those who learn best in a classroom setting and from experienced teachers who work alongside their teachers and peers. If you choose to attend a trade school, make sure the school you choose has been approved by the California Department of Industrial Relations; otherwise, you will not be allowed to take the licensing exam and work as an electrician.

You can also choose to become an apprentice, which still requires you to attend a program that is usually three to four years in length. Apprenticeships are more difficult to accept because these programs include a combination of training and work experience and take several years to complete.

4. Study for an exam

After completing a state-approved trade school program or apprenticeship program, you will need to study for state electrical codes to pass an exam for your license.

Many trade schools will teach you the state code while you are in school so that you can begin studying for the licensing exam before you graduate. Some people choose to take the exam directly after completing trade school training, but they still need to gain verified work experience to be licensed.

5. Licensing Requirements

After studying thoroughly, you can now take and (hopefully) pass the state electrical exam. In order to become certified in California, you will also need to accumulate paid work experience to become a licensed electrician.

However, you can use your "T-Card" while you are accumulating work hours. Once you are licensed, you can begin working unsupervised as an electrician.

Professional Electrician Tools 

If you are ready to return to work after a workplace accident, excellent electrical tools are your best bet. Knoweasy tools are professional electrician tools that can meet the various needs of electricians when working and effectively improve the efficiency and safety of their work.