Learn How to Become an Electrician

Becoming an electrician has never been easier thanks to all of the quality trade schools that offer electrical training courses. During your education you’ll learn about basic circuitry, motor controls, electric motors, trade mathematics, blueprint reading, national electrical codes and transformers. The majority of electricians learn the trade during an apprenticeship sponsored by a union or contractor association. Requirements for these apprenticeships vary, but students typically must be at least eighteen, have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete one year of algebra, pass a substance abuse screening and have a qualifying score on an aptitude test.

Education Requirements
Every state has different education requirements when it comes to being licensed in your state. Your first step before enrolling in any school is to verify what your state requirements are. Once confirmed you can then begin to research schools. It is important that you get written confirmation from the school that they teach the requirements needed to get your license. Many of the schools will teach you everything you. You’ll need between 140-250 hours of training and up to 2000 hours of on the job training.

Responsibilities of an Electrician
As an electrician you’ll be responsible for the assessment and repair of electrical issues at homes and commercial buildings. Many electricians work with home builders with new construction however many work as independent contractors fixing electrical issues. In order to be a good electrician you’ll need to have great communication skills to be able to talk to home owners about the issues including recommendations and costs.

Different Types of Benefits to Pay for Your Training
One of the things that are often overlooked is how to pay for your education. Most vocational schools that offer electrical training programs have tuition rates ranging from $9,000 to just under $20,000. The average tuition cost should be around $15,000. When it comes to paying for your education be sure to research the below.

 

Military: If you are currently in the military on active duty or a military veteran many of the schools accept the tuition assistance that you earned while in the military. Many times this is enough to 100% pay for all tuition so you can become an electrician. Also military spouses can utilize their MyCAA benefits that provide up to $4500 to be used. Make sure to see if the school is part of the Military Yellow Ribbon program which can also help you pay for your electrical training.

Loans/Title IV: One of the most common ways to pay for your electrical tuition is to take out a loan (personal or private) or see if you qualify for federal Title IV loan. All of these loans will need to be repaid however most of the loans don’t need to be repaid until after you graduated. Some electrician trade schools offer their own financing which can be 0% interest loans.

Family: One of the more overlooked areas is to borrow money from your family. This is often a better choice since you won’t be paying interest rates which can be high.

 

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Resources:
http://www.college-universities.com/vocational-electrical-start-your-electrical-training.php