BusinessHAB24 hour electrician: If you enjoy working with your hands and solving puzzles, becoming an electrician may be a great choice for you. You apply for an apprentice license and then either go to trade school or work as an apprentice until you acquire 4,000 hours of experience. Then, you sit for the license exam to become a certified electrician. With enough hard work, you should have no problem becoming a professional electrician in 2 years.
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24 hour electrician
1. Opt for trade school if you want an educational background in the field.
Tip: Just as an overview, anyone with an apprentice license can work as an apprentice electrician. You must get a total of 4,000 hours of experience before you can apply for a permanent journeyman position. There are two ways to get these hours: in the classroom or on the job. If you start at a trade school, you will be placed into an apprentice position after 1,000-2,000 hours, so the result is the same whether you go to trade school or not.
2. Fill out an application for a licensed trade school near you.
There are dozens of trade schools in the world that are licensed to teach apprentice electricians. Find one near you and look at the tuition fees to ensure that you can afford the program. Once you find a licensed trade school that appeals to you, fill out an application and wait to hear back regarding the start of classes.
- Some of these programs host classes at night if you’re currently working a day job or you don’t have a ton of time during the day. Others host some online classes if you have a variety of responsibilities at home. Just like regular colleges, each trade school is different so weigh your options before applying.
3. Attend your classes and complete the coursework for 1,000-2,000 hours.
In electrician school, you will learn how to wire systems, solder wires, ground systems, and install control panels. Classes will cover everything you need to know about working as an electrician, from calculating voltages to completing government-required paperwork. Continue attending classes and completing the coursework for at least 6 months.
- Electrician school has homework, quizzes, and tests, just like any other academic program. Do not skip out on your studies to ensure that you graduate on time.
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4. Transition into an apprentice position to finish your coursework.
Depending on your specific program, you will be placed in an apprentice position after 1,000-2,000 hours in the classroom. Once you complete the final classroom course, work with your counsellor or educator to find a placement that works for you.
- Most of these apprentice positions will pay you, although it usually isn’t more than minimum wage.
5. Apply for apprenticeship positions to learn the skills on the job.
Go online and pull up a job-hunting website. Enter “apprentice electrician” into the search bar and include your zip code. Scroll through the available positions and apply to any positions that seem interesting to you. The job duties from position to position will be basically identical, so focus instead on applying to paying positions with benefits that seem interesting to you.
- If you went to trade school, most of the time you will be placed into an apprentice position by your trade school. If they don’t place you, you’ll need to apply to a position yourself.
- Don’t worry if your resume looks a little light. Most electricians hiring apprentices will care more about the interview than your work history.
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6. Interview for potential positions and accept an offer to start working.
When you’re called in for an interview, put a suit or business-appropriate outfit on. Show up 15 minutes before your interview and bring a copy of your resume with you. Answer questions in your interview and ask potential employers about what it’s like working for them. Once you’re offered a position, take it to begin working as an apprentice electrician.
- The interviewer may ask you about how you would wire a potential set up, handle an upset client, or fix a mistake made by a previous electrician. Just do your best and be honest about your experience.
Tip: As an apprentice electrician, you’ll be working directly under a master electrician. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to answer a question and feel free to say “I’d defer to the master electrician” or “I’d ask my supervisor.” In many cases, this may be the answer your interviewer is looking for!
7. Get 4,000 hours of experience as an apprentice electrician.
Once hired, you will be assigned a master electrician to work under. Show up to work on time and wait for them to tell you where you’re going, what they need you to do, and how you can help them as they work. In most cases, you’ll start out doing very minor wiring work. Continue working as an apprentice until you get at least 2 years of experience, or 4,000 hours.
- In the field, feel free to ask questions about what the master electrician is doing or why they’re completing a job in a particular way. The entire goal of an apprentice position is for apprentices to learn from experienced electricians, so ask away!
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8. Go online to register for the Electrician License Exam through PSI.
The TDLR runs all of their testing through a company called PSI. Once you’ve completed your 4,000 hours of experience, go online to PSI’s website to enrol for the state Electrician License Exam.
- Your trade school or employer is tasked with tracking your hours as part of the licensing certification with the state of Texas. They’ll let you know when you’re close to 4,000 hours.
9. Create an account using the records from your apprentice license.
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10. Select your test and pick a test center and date to complete the exam.
On the next page, select “Journeyman” or “Wireman” depending on which exam you’re sitting for. A list of testing centers and dates will pop up on your screen. Select a date and testing center that works for you and pay $78 to sign up for your exam.
- The journeyman exam is exponentially more popular than the wireman test. Approved journeymen can work on a variety of electronic systems while wiremen are limited to working on residential constructions.
- The exam takes 4 hours to complete, so make sure you set some time aside on your schedule!
11. Show up with your photo ID and registration form 30 minutes before the test.
On the day of your exam, show up 30 minutes before your test and check in at the front desk. Show the clerk your driver’s license, state ID, or passport and hand over your registration receipt. They will collect your phone and any other electronics and show you where to wait for your exam.
12. Sit for 4 hours and complete the exam to the best of your ability.
The test will cover electrical systems, definitions, calculations, motors, wiring, and other essential information. It is multiple choice, so do your best to rule out bad options and answer questions correctly. Once 4 hours have passed or as soon as you finish the exam, let the test proctor know you’re done and collect your things before leaving.
- You must score a minimum of 70% on the journeyman exam and an 80% on the wireman exam to pass the test.
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13. Wait 30 days at most for your results to come in.
Within 30 days, you will receive an email or letter with your results. If you passed the exam, it will include a copy of your certification to begin working as a certified journeyman electrician.
- If you didn’t pass, you can re-enroll to take the exam again. Many people do not pass the first time they complete the test, so don’t get discouraged.
14. Find a position as a licensed electrician to start working.
Once you have your journeyman or wireman license, you can apply for any positions looking for standard electricians. Update your resume to include your new license and begin applying for positions. Start with the company that hired you on as an apprentice, since they’ll be familiar with your work ethic and dependability. If they aren’t hiring, reach out to companies in your area and interview to find a permanent position.
- You can now begin working towards your master electrician license. You must acquire 12,000 of on-site experience before you can sit for the master’s exam.
- Renew your license every year with the TDLR to keep your license active.
Read on: 13 Tips to Become 24/7 Master Electrician
15. More tips
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Don’t get disheartened if you don’t pass the licensing exam the first time. It’s a pretty tough test and many accomplished electricians have to take the exam multiple times before they’re accepted.
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2,000 hours is the equivalent of 1 year of work
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