THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELECTRICIAN

CAREERS

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Logic4training, the UK’s leading building services training provider, is proud to present this practical guide to starting and developing a career as an electrician.

The guide will give you everything you need to know about progressing in a career as an electrician. We’ll cover the required training, common paths to success and qualifications needed – even your career progression options.

CONTENTS• What to Expect from the Job

• Are There Any Risks?

• Where to Start

• Qualifications You’ll Need and How to Get Them

• Apprenticeships

• Other Courses to Take

• Progressing in Your Career

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELECTRICIAN CAREERS

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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE JOBA fully qualified and experienced domestic electrician can expect a salary of between £25,000 and £35,000 per year.

Highly experienced electricians can expect to earn over £40,000 a year – sometimes more. Your working environment and day-to-day duties will depend on which area you choose to specialise in (we cover the details in the next section).

It’s a competitive job market but one that’s full of rewarding work and diverse roles.

Day-to-Day DutiesElectricians usually work a 30- to 40-hour week, Monday to Friday, but shift work, paid overtime and on-call duties are also common.

The range of work is broad and varied, with several different disciplines in which you can specialise, such as:

• A specialist installation electrician – you’ll work in buildings, installing power systems, lighting and other infrastructure. 

• A maintenance electrician – this role involves making sure electrical systems are working properly and safely.

• A highway systems electrician – you’ll install and maintain street lights, traffic lights and outdoor electrics for public use.

• An electrical panel builder – this role involves making and installing the control panels that operate electrical systems in buildings.

• A machine repair electrician – you’ll fix and carry out maintenance on electrical motors and power transformers.

Some of these roles require a lot of work outdoors, where you’ll have to carry out your duties regardless of weather conditions. You might also have to work up high or in cramped spaces at times.

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There are opportunities to diversify your role and transfer skills, as well as learn new ones. Let’s take a look at some of the roles you can enter:

• Trade – This career route will involve general work, such as carrying out new installations, tests and inspections. These tasks could be in a domestic or commercial setting. It is varied and rewarding, with specialisms like home entertainment and CCTV installation. Essential skills learned along the way can bolster your portfolio and help you find an area of expertise. To work on most sites as an electrician, you need an ECS skills card, which requires meeting minimum qualification requirements such as UK Electrotechnical Level 3 NVQ (or a formal UK electrotechnical apprenticeship).

• Commercial – Wiring buildings, civil engineering projects and large-scale installations make up the bulk of work carried out by commercial electricians.

 

“Highly experienced electricians can expect to earn

over £40,000 a year – sometimes more. Your working

environment and day-to-day duties will depend on which

area you choose to specialise in.”

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ARE THERE ANY RISKS?All trades have their risks and working with electricity can be dangerous if you don’t understand how it works or know how to handle it.

Electricity should never be underestimated or abused, but as a qualified electrician, you’ll have learned how to reduce the risk to yourself and to others, in order to work safely in any situation.

Electricity can be deadly at high currents and voltages. It can also cause severe shocks and burns. Poor condition or insulation of wiring can cause sparks and fire. These dangers demonstrate why

it’s vital for you to have the correct training before working with electricity – the person most at risk is the installer themselves, so it’s in your best interest to take the right precautions.

“Electricity can be deadly at high currents and voltages. It can also cause severe shocks and burns. Poor condition or insulation of wiring can cause sparks and fire. These dangers demonstrate why it’s vital for you to have the correct training before working with electricity “

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WHERE TO STARTWhen you’re starting a new career path, it’s good to know what you’ll need for your journey – we’re here to help you with your first steps.

Things You’ll Need• Colour vision*

• Good practical skills, with a keen attention to detail

• Problem-solving ability

• Good communication skills: this includes being polite, friendly, personable, professional and able to work in teams

*About Colour Blindness - Electricians are commonly required to have full colour vision and therefore a colour blindness test must be passed by apprentice electricians. However, if you have one of the common forms of colour blindness (i.e. red/green colour blindness), you’ll still be able to become an electrician. In modern wiring installations (i.e. since 2004), live, earth and neutral wiring colours have been changed to avoid issues with the most common forms of colour blindness.

Having some rarer forms of colour blindness (for example, full colour blindness) will mean that some careers, including becoming an electrician, will not be available to you.

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QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL NEED AND HOW TO GET THEMLet’s look at the career path for technicians, electricians and installers. There are several paths to becoming a qualified electrician, whether you’re still in education or looking for a career change. You could consider applying for:

• An advanced-level apprenticeship

• A Level 3 diploma and NVQ

• Domestic electrical installer schemes

It’s a competitive market, so you’ll need to be hard-working and dedicated, with a tenacious attitude. Apprenticeships in electrical installation are especially difficult to secure. The right candidate will need to have all the traits and qualifications required, but also needs to stand out from the crowd with their attitude.

As well as the proper certificates and qualifications, a domestic electrician will need a full driving licence.

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APPRENTICESHIPSApprenticeships are so popular because they offer a unique blend of employment and learning, giving you the practical skills you need to succeed, while also giving you certification and qualifications.

Still in School?If you’re still in school and thinking about your career path, an electrical apprenticeship is a great way into paid work. Your path straight from education can be more straightforward, but still isn’t a guarantee of a placement, so be sure to demonstrate your personal qualities and attention to detail during the application.

As an apprentice, you’ll be taken on by a company and learn on the job. Apprenticeship standards are currently under reform, with a new electrotechnical apprenticeship scheme being introduced for the start of the 2017/2018 academic year. ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeships are replacing the current model to help meet the changing needs of employers, give better training and simplify the funding system.

If you’re between 16 and 18 years old, the government will incentivise your training through employers. Find out more about the new apprenticeship reforms and how the new funding model works:

www.cityandguilds.com/apprenticeships/trailblazer-apprenticeships

www.cityandguilds.com/apprenticeships/trailblazer-apprenticeships/apprenticeship-funding

An electrical apprenticeship can take between two and four years, depending on the level of study. You’ll typically have a normal five-day working week, with one day a week reserved for studying for your qualification; there are also block training options.

To become an electrician, you will go through an Advanced Level 3 apprenticeship. Completing higher-level apprenticeships (Levels 5–7) in the future can give you a qualification equivalent to a

“An electrical apprenticeship can take between two and

four years, depending on the level of study. You’ll typically

have a normal five-day working week, with one day a week

reserved for studying for your qualification; there are also

block training options.”

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bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on your field of study.

If you’re in school, talk to your tutor and arrange a chat with a careers adviser who can guide you further. You should also research which local companies offer apprenticeships.

Having a close tie to someone working as an electrician is a big bonus. If you have friends or family working in the industry, talk to them to see if they can help you find an apprenticeship placement.

Essential Qualifications for ApprenticesAlthough this varies slightly from one part of the UK to another, there are no specifically required qualifications for apprenticeships. Having a good knowledge of maths and sufficient numeracy skills to apply all the electrical calculations that are part of the job is essential, however.

GCSEs/Standard Grades in Maths, English/Welsh or Technology are required by some employers. Key Skills Level 2 and equivalent qualifications may also grant entry.

Funding Apprentices aged between 16 and 18 are fully funded by the government. For over-19s, the employer may be expected to contribute some of the cost of training. There isn’t an age limit for an apprenticeship applicant, but in most cases, over-24s will have to fund the study themselves.

Anybody over the age of 24 can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help cover the costs. Find out more about Advanced Learner Loans at www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/how-to-apply

More about Apprenticeship RequirementsThe Joint Industry Board (JIB) has a wealth of resources for industry professionals, including detailing what organisations should look for in a candidate. A list of qualities and qualifications has been drafted by the JIB. Get familiar with them at www.jib.org.uk/apprenticeships.

Their essential requirement is a ‘good team fit’, i.e. being able to work well with the rest of the company. This brings us back to having the right attitude.

EmployersEven with a high rate of competition, employers are always looking for the best and brightest talent. Firms such as SSE, one of the largest energy providers in the UK, advertise their apprentice roles openly. Have a look at sse.com/careers/apprentices to see what they offer and how to get involved.

The following references will also help:

www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch

For electrical engineering: www.eef.org.uk/apprentices

More information can be found here: electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/60/training-overview/

Most energy providers will have a section on their website dedicated to apprentice and trainee programmes, so do your research – the opportunities are out there.

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OTHER COURSES TO TAKEApprenticeships aren’t the only paths into a career in electrical installation. If you already have some experience working alongside an electrician, or in a related trade, you may be eligible to enrol on an entry-level Electrical Installations qualification (Level 1 or 2). This route is suited to older workers who are already working but don’t have an employer to take them on as an apprentice.

The courses can be undertaken part-time, usually at a local college. Once the Level 2 is completed, candidates can move on to a Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations, followed by an NVQ – at this point, it is essential to be working in the electrical industry, as practical, on-the-job experience is key. Example NVQs are:

• Level 3 NVQ diploma in Electrotechnical Services (Electrical Maintenance)

• Level 3 NVQ diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structure and the Environment)

Part-time courses can be intense, so it’s essential that you can commit to independent study out of college.

More information can be found here: electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/60/training-overview/

Achievement Measurement Two (AM2) The AM2 electrical assessment is the final stage of formal training and is also part of the apprenticeship. AM2 is the end-point assessment – the ‘Trailblazer’ standard. It is compulsory for apprentices, adult trainees and upskilling workers seeking industry-recognised qualified status.

On the AM2, you will be required to perform a set of common occupational tasks and procedures that a fully qualified electrician might face in homes and commercial premises. AM2 assesses candidates on installation, inspection and testing and fault-finding.

Electrical work as secondary workIt is not just electricians that need to do electrical

work. Many installers in the building services engineering sector, such as plumbers and gas installers, may need to carry out some electrical tasks – wiring in a boiler or electric shower, for example.

To do this work, you don’t need a full electrical qualification, but you do need to demonstrate ability in a range of areas, including the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, Part P of the Building Regulations and installation and testing according to the requirements of BS7671. Demonstration of this knowledge is required to join a recognised Competent Person Scheme, which in turn is necessary to self-certify your work.

Competent Person Schemes for domestic electrical installers:

www.napit.org.ukwww.niceic.comwww.elecsa.co.ukwww.stroma.com

This experience and knowledge can be gained through new entrants’ courses, which allow people with practical experience in a similar trade to begin a career as a domestic electrical installer.

We offer a New Entrants Domestic Electrical Installer (NEDEI) course for candidates working in related trades, which covers:

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• A City & Guilds Level 3 QCF qualification in 17th Edition Wiring Regulations

• A Logic Certification Level 3 QCF qualification in Initial Verification, Testing and Electrical Installations

• A Logic Certification qualification as a Domestic Electrical Installer (Part P)

Online course certificates in:

• Asbestos awareness

• Manual handling

• Fire safety

• Working at heights

PROGRESSING IN YOUR CAREERWith experience, hard work and dedication to your employer, you can climb the chain of command to a supervisor or manager role, giving you more responsibility and better prospects.

You could shift your career path into commercial and large-scale electrical engineering roles using your work experience.

You could even start your own electrical business. While it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted or the inexperienced, it does make you the boss of what could eventually become an industry-leading company. Read our guide to setting up your own business for more information:

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Tel: 0345 845 7222Email: enquiries@logic4training.co.uk

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