I Want To Be An Electrician But School Is Not For Me?
im 19 years old. I am looking to be an electrician i have a high school diploma; im not interested in going to a tech school or jr college; school is not for me. I have no problem working hard. I am curious if i can start as an electrician apprentice with a high school diploma.
There are small business-owner electricians who would be willing to take you under their wing and train you (in time) to work as an electrician and eventually pass the master electrician’s exam for your license. But let me relate a story from my own personal experience.
My Dad is a jack of all trades–he could have been a plumber, a master electrician, an automotive mechanic–he was expert at all of these trades, but he had no formal education. Through his employment, he was able to do all of these things at the company where he worked as a maintenance person. He worked for the same company for 30 years and never made more money than I did as a paralegal (and believe me, master electricians make way more than I do).
If you have the knowlege and ability to be an electrician, I know you are smart. School is boring, but it’s only a couple of years–way less than my Dad’s 30 years with the same company. Don’t sell yourself short. I know you can do it.
Go to trade school to get your ticket…
Just start workin on the power lines outside the neighbors house or climb a pole and start givin juice to the family down the road that didnt pay their electric bill. Ya gotta show ya have skills and someone will give ya a job.
I’m not an electrician, but I know a few. I believe a high school degree is sufficient. To be licensed, you’ll have to pass some tests, but that’s what OJT is about, isn’t it? Open the Yellow Pages and call a few of the electrical companies. Ask what would be required for an entry level job. You might even be able to submit an application.
You should probably know a bit about the job. If you’re the type, get a book or two about electricity, building wiring, etc.
I believe that electricians is a hot thing right now as an apprenticeship program whereas you get trained and paid by an employer and the government at the same time.
Best way I know of to get training and certification while getting paid for it.
The link below is to the U.S. Government Department Of Labor site that pertains to apprenticeship program.
I would think (and would hope) that electricians have to be certified. This means you have to be capable of proving that you can pass a variety of electrical-related tests successfully without burning something down. In short, you’re probably going to have to at least go to a technical or trade school in order to get certified. After that, you have to hope that any person interviewing you for a job is impressed with your skills… and your cufflinks or some other unrelated thing.
By the way, I’m just the opposite of you. I took electricity in high school but didn’t want to. Also if you haven’t had any electricity courses in school, it might be best not to assume you are fully trained in the electrical field, but there might be someone out there willing to take you on as an apprentice… just not sure who that would be. Good luck.
yes, if you apprentice under an electrical engineer. i think it is a two year apprenticeship. go union.
Okay son, schools out, so you got one choice. apprenticeship. Find an electrician (licensed) who will teach you. I am afraid your going to find you’ll need some schooling though, that is if you really want to become a licensed electrician.