How Do You Become a Journeyman Electrician?

Journeyman electricians are licensed professionals trained in installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems and other electrical devices. They can work independently and respond to service calls. They can also work in a team in either construction work or remodeling houses.

What does a Journeyman Electrician do at work?

Electrician Columbus Ohio states that electricians carefully study a blueprint drafted by an architect when it comes to installing electrical systems. They will calculate and list all the supplies needed for the job after going through the plan.

They install the electrical system after they acquire all the supplies. Everyone ensures that what they do follows the standard requirements for local electrical codes.

You need to have a keen eye for detail to become an electrician. If you’re not going to focus on the job, you could mess up the electrical system or whatever electrical device you’re fixing. Also, you need to be creative and smart. Electrical problems may occur on the construction site, and you need to know how to resolve the problem quickly.

How much does an electrician earn?

Working as a journeyman can be tough yet exciting. Most of these professionals work at construction sites. In 2018, the average salary of an electrician reached around $55,000. This skilled trade is expected to grow as more buildings and homes require their expertise.

How do you become a journeyman electrician?

If you want to be a journeyman electrician, you need to undergo vocational electrician courses to learn basic theories and skills. As you progress in your electrician training, you can practice and experience hands-on training to familiarize yourself with the necessary electrical instruments that an electrician uses.

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To further develop your skills, you can put what you learn into practice by doing an apprenticeship program.

Your school can refer you to professionals who need an apprentice. The electricians at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) can also help you land an apprenticeship job training.  

What happens during the apprenticeship training?

As an electrician apprentice, you are required to complete an intensive on-job training program for about four years. During this period, you need to undergo 2,000 hours of work at the building site.

Aside from on-job training, you will need to complete 144 hours of classroom-based training annually. Some students take online courses for this; others prefer to go to school to attend their classes.

Learning how to use electrical tools is something that any apprentice loves to do. Experienced electricians will guide and educate you on how to do electrical works. You’ll learn how to drill holes, install lighting fixtures, wires, switches, and more.

In classroom-based learning, you will learn the basics of electrical energy, reading electrical plan blueprints, math formulas, and calculations.

You’ll also learn about the National Electrical Code or NFPA 70. This code contains the standards for safe and proper installation of electrical systems in the buildings in the US.

If you want to become a journeyman electrician, you need to enroll in vocational electrician courses to prepare you to perform electrical works safely. The knowledge you gain in the classroom setting can significantly help you pass the certification exam to become a journeyman electrician.  

Getting to Know our Electricians

With the high demand for electrical products lately, it is most likely that you have one at home. These home appliances have made our lives easier and more convenient, and have become so integral to our modern living. However, it is inevitable for such electrical devices to encounter some problems or become defective over time. This is where we will need help from a well-trained electrician.

               Electricians deal with a significant amount of danger and hazards as they perform their job. Doing what they do is not ‘a walk in the park.’  They have to undergo rigorous training and workshop to get the qualifications required to handle various electrical issues. Now, let’s get to know some information about these skilled individuals whom we turn to when we have electrical concerns, or we need our appliances fixed.

  • They are restoration specialists. A lot of electricians are employed to work in restoring old facilities and buildings. They fix old wirings and make sure that electricity would be flowing properly before the old buildings are used again. They would also be in charge of ensuring that the facility is lit correctly.
    • They are problem-solving experts. Good reasoning, exceptional logical thinking skills, and fast analysis of the problem are all needed when dealing with electrical issues.
    • They are physically fit and healthy. The job of an electrician entails laborious tasks and activities such as climbing, hanging, and carrying heavy materials so a weak body and stamina will not get you far in this line of work.
    • They possess visual acuity and an excellent color vision. Electricians must deal with tiny parts of electrical equipment, as well as a multitude of wires with different colors. The ability to differentiate the wires is a very crucial skill because a single mistake in connecting wires could lead to horrible outcomes.
    • They need to have brilliant management skills and the ability to finish the job on schedule. Electricians must know how to manage their time and schedule appropriately. They have to follow organized procedures to tackle electrical issues as safely and efficiently as possible and ensure they adhere to preassigned schedules.

               Oftentimes, electricians never cross our minds unless we have equipment that needs to be repaired.  The next time we employ an electrician, let us show them some appreciation and treat them with respect and kindness they deserve. They are not only doing a difficult job, but they are also risking their lives to resolve our wiring issues and make our electrical devices running again.

Why You Need To Hire A Professional Electrician

An electrician’s job isn’t merely to replace cords or to fix a light bulb; there is more than that. I’m sure most of us can agree that we’ve attempted to set an “easy wiring issue” with duct tape at some point in our lives. That’s not as bad, but that isn’t good either. Working with electricity can be dangerous. We fail to understand that the problem is more severe than it is. That usually ends up to more significant electrical problems. It is tempting to work on these small DIY projects with so many “helpful tips” you can find online. But trust me, it’s better to leave these projects in the hands of a professional electrician atlanta company who can determine the source of the fault. They are efficient and trustworthy. And they mostly give their customers a fair price.

Appliances that have split or frayed cords and no power are clear signs that you need to have them repaired by a qualified and professional electrician. But often, it is encouraged that you have the faulty wiring replaced instead of merely having them fixed. A professional would work on your faulty wiring issue like a breeze. They will usually attempt to find anything else that is faulty to ensure that they have been replaced or repaired properly. Trying to do them yourself won’t cut it. Not only will you risk your safety, but you will also be held accountable for your actions. It’s better to be on the safe side of things.

Aside from efficiency, most professional electricians give a warranty to the projects they have worked on. And the good thing with hiring one is that they have insurance. Should something unfortunate happens; they are insured and covered by their company. It’s an occupational hazard that they face every day.

When communicating with an electrician for a home inspection or simple repair, you need to give them the details of what happened and what you need to have them check first. And they can carry on from that. Communication is vital to make sure they know where to start. This allows them to get the job done efficiently and faster.

Professional electricians also ensure that your circuit breaker doesn’t overload. They triple check everything before they leave your house. It takes years of practice and experience to be able to handle what they do. Hence why they are called professionals. Thorough Roofing New Orleans can help you with any roofing and electrical needs.

The bottom line is, electrical issues if left untreated, would result in a disaster like appliances getting permanently damaged. Or even worse… your house fire. Saving a couple of bucks from doing DIY repairs isn’t worth it. You’re risking your safety. If you notice anything suspicious with your wiring or appliances, don’t think twice and contact a professional electrician ASAP. They can get to the heart of the problem and fix it in a speedy and timely manner before it’s too late.

Pursuing Success in Electrician Training

After completing high school, pursuing success in electrician training provides you an opportunity to find steady electrician jobs. Enrolling in relevant courses enables you to acquire knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience. Moreover, undergoing training can prepare you to pass the certification exam.

You need to be serious and must study hard to progress in your career choice.

Imagine all the risks and jobs that you will do when you become an electrician. You will perform duties such as installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems, circuit breakers, and other electrical devices. In construction sites, you will be working with engineers and other construction workers. Plus, you will be reading and analyzing blueprints of electrical plans.

Most of all, you’re going to deal with electricity, and that’s not something you can toy with.

So, what’s the best course of action? Here are the following methods:

You’ll start from learning fundamental skills and progress to advanced hands-on training courses until you succeed.

Enroll in Vocational Courses

The first thing to do is to take up courses in a trade school. This is where you will learn the fundamental theories, skills, and other relevant information that you will use once you start working as a certified electrician.

Join an Apprenticeship Program

Once you have completed your vocational training, the next step is to enter an apprenticeship training program. Here, under the guidance of journeyman and master electricians, you can acquire practical knowledge.

To become an apprentice, your school can refer you to electricians in need of apprentices for construction work or other electrical jobs.

Another way to do this is to contact an organization connected with the National Electrical Contractors Association or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Regardless of how you will find an apprenticeship program, you are required to learn skills and practical work for about four years. During this period, you are required to do hands-on training for about 2000 hours and 144 hours of classroom-based learning.

Pass the Licensure Exam

Once you have completed the apprenticeship program, you will need to pass the certification exam. The licensing requirements include:

  • Documents to prove that you have finished the apprenticeship training and the number of hours of experience in electrical work.
  • Documents showing your test results from the National Electrical Code (NEC) and state building codes.
  • Your proof of payment for your examination fees.

Work as Journeyman Electrician

After passing the licensure exam, you can start working independently as a journeyman electrician. You can apply all the skills and experience you learned from school to apprenticeship program.

As a journeyman, you can install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring and fixtures, but you can’t issue permits or design an electrical system.

Continuing Education

Learning doesn’t end after you acquire a license. You can take refresher courses, seminars, and other job training to develop your skills.

Become a Master Electrician

You can take an exam to become a master electrician after two or more years of relevant experience. You’ll need to attend courses and pass an exam to become a licensed master electrician.

Once you become a master electrician, you will be able to lead a team of apprentices and journeymen, analyze and diagnose an electrical wiring setup, design an entire electrical system, and issue permits for electrical plans.

Formal education isn’t required to become a skilled electrician. With a positive mindset, determination, and perseverance, you will be successful in your pursuit as a highly competent electrician.

How to Spot a Good Electrician Who Can Do the Job Right

We are all surrounded by electrical appliances that aides us in our everyday living. But time would come that they would have issues that would require you to employ the help of an expert. Since we spend effort and money to acquire these valued items, we would like to get someone who will handle them with care and expertise. This is when the hunt for a good electrician starts.

    Before you proceed with the search for an electrician that can attend to your repairing needs, you should first think of your standards in hiring an electrician and what constitutes a good electrician. There is no use in knowing where to look when you do not know what you are looking for. So, what is a good electrician?

    Good communication skill is a good determinant of a good electrician. Some would raise their brows and ask what does communication skill have to do with the ability to solve electrical issues. The answer is simple, we want someone who can speak with us in a pleasing manner, who shows a willingness to answer all our questions, and who can explain to us well what is happening and what needs to be done for our equipment. We want to hire someone who can make us understand how the issue came to be so we would know what to avoid next time to prevent damaging our electrical appliances. Also, a good electrician should be respectful enough to ask first for approval from the client before he proceeds with any repair.

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    A good electrician would not provide his full diagnosis of the problem and the estimated cost for the repair by just hearing the issue over the phone without actually inspecting the damaged item. He must at least ask you to bring the item to his shop if he has one, or he will personally go to your house to check the product thoroughly first before giving any conclusions. This is an indication of his credibility as an electrician because he does not want to present any deduction without being sure of the actual problem.

    Once you already know the kind of electrician you want to hire, you can now start reaching out to one. Your search can start with the people you are close with. Your friends, family members, or relatives might know an electrician or recently hired one.

    If the recommendations do not meet your standards, you can look for one in other resources like yellow pages or on the internet. Since we are already in a digital world, most electricians and their contractors advertise their services online. There are websites that list the credentials and work experiences of electricians. Technology made it easier for you to find the perfect electrician that can perfectly suit your repairing needs. With the great number of electricians and the different platform where they advertise themselves, the hunt for good electricians is made easier ten-fold.