Are you thinking about becoming an Electrician? If so, you’re making the smart decision to enter into a growing industry. Using solar power is becoming so popular that it’s also causing a boom in the labor workforce. Employment in solar energy grew by 44% from 2014 to 2019, which is five times the growth of the entire US job market! Before you can start working in the solar energy industry as an Electrician, you’ll need to complete a few steps. Here are six steps you’ll need to follow to become a qualified Electrician and get started in the field.
Step 1: Meet the Training Eligibility Criteria
It’s also important to consider any eligibility criteria a school requires from its students. Most electrical schools will require that you have your high school diploma or the equivalent. The high school diploma requirement shows that you’ve learned the basic skills necessary to succeed in this field, especially if the diploma was earned at a vocational school. Similar to an ID, it also can serve as check that people receiving training are of age to work in the electrical industry. Usually, the aforementioned high school diploma should be all that you need to attend electrical school. However, make sure you contact the school you’re interested in to find out their exact admission requirements.
Step 2: Choose the Right Training School
The first step to become an electrician is to get an education from a school that trains electricians. While it might seem easy to choose the first school you find, it’s better to spend some time researching these institutions. One of the most important things to look for from an electrical school is that they have the appropriate credentials. Without credentials, you have little to no proof that these educators know what they’re doing and run the risk of not being hired because your school was not accredited. Programs should be thoughtfully designed, and constantly modernized and updated to parallel today’s new technologies and laws.
We recommend The Peterson School, a reputable electrical training institution with three locations: Worcester, Woburn, and Westwood. The Peterson School has been preparing Facilities Operations Personnel for their State License Exams since 1946. Staff members are all senior licensed instructors holding major operations and management positions in the largest commercial facilities in New England. All of the Peterson School instructional staff is approved by the Division of Professional Licensure. The programs have been researched and carefully designed, and are constantly updated to parallel today’s new technologies.
Step 3: Choose the Right Kind of Electrical Training
Another thing to think about is what type of electrician training you want to receive. The two ways to receive an education in this field are through on-campus training and apprenticeships.
Receiving on-campus training lets you learn more about the industry and knowledge you need for the job more directly from experts. However, receiving only this kind of training might not prepare you for what you’ll do on the job. If you can find them, apprenticeships are ideal. Instead of spending all day in a classroom, apprenticeships allow you to work with other electricians in a hands-on learning environment. With that said, being an apprentice can sometimes feel like things are moving too fast.
Generally, it’s best to have a foundation of training while also taking part in an apprenticeship. If you have trade experience and are interested in becoming an Electrician, you can receive the hours necessary of hands-on electrical work as a Solar Installer to aid in getting your electrical license. Solaris Renewables helps soon-to-be-electricians by allowing them to work under one of our licensed Journeyman Electricians or our Master Electrician.
Step 4: Prepare For and Pass the Test
As you can likely remember from attending school, most semesters end with tests. These tests make sure that you’re retaining everything you learn. They’re also one of the last steps needed to become an Electrician. It’s important to note that exact exams will vary depending on what school you attend. To prepare yourself for this test, gather all of your study materials. It might also be wise to have a copy of the National Electrical Code on hand.
According to research from St. Lawrence University, avoid trying to pull an all-nighter before your exams. Their research shows that staying up all night to study impairs your memory for up to 96 hours. Instead, study in small 20 to 30-minute intervals multiple times throughout the day.
Step 5: Licensure Requirements
After passing your electrician exam, you can now start working on getting licensed. It’s important to note that requirements to receive your electrician’s license will vary from state to state. As a rule of thumb, expect it to take about three to four years to qualify for your license.
To complete your requirements as fast as possible, find out if any on-campus or vocational training you received is eligible to include in your logged hours. To obtain a Journeyman Electrician license and work in Massachusetts, you need to have a state license from the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. There are different requirements for each category of license:
- Journeyman Electrician: Requirements include a high school diploma, completing 600 hours of journeyman educational courses, 4 years of work experience, equaling at least 8,000 hours, and passing an exam.
- Master Electrician: Completion of a 150 hour approved study course, 1 year as a licensed journeyman, and passing an exam.
If you want to find out your state’s licensure requirements, here’s a list of electrician license requirements by state.
Step 6: Look For Job Opportunities
At this point, you’ve completed your training and received your license. With all of these steps completed, you can now start job hunting. Considering that the electrical industry remains in demand, you should have many options regarding where to work.
You might prefer working in the fast-growing solar energy industry. Or you might not be as picky with where you want to work and are just ready to get started! The important thing to remember while job hunting is to have patience. Eventually, the right job will come your way. Solaris Renewables is always looking for qualified Electricians to join our solar team. Most of the year, we are looking for Apprentice Electricians and Solar Installers to build residential and commercial solar systems in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
If you want to enter a rewarding career, consider everything that being an electrician has to offer. Follow the previously mentioned steps, and you’ll soon enjoy working in this popular industry.
Join the Solaris Renewables Team
Solaris Renewables is always looking for qualified Electricians to join our solar team. Most of the year, we are looking for Apprentice Electricians and Solar Installers to build residential and commercial solar systems in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. If you are interested in working with us as a Solar Installer or Electrician, send us a message or call (781) 270-6555.