There is several different types of electricians. We are going to talk about those who design and are working on electrical systems. With an ever rising population and more gadgets drawing electrical power the potential of electrically powered cars, employment prospects for a experienced electrician has never been better. New laws have been passed by government to safeguard people and properties against the harm that electricity can do. Which means that the requirement for qualified electricians are set to increase even further in the near future. So, this is a great time to obtain proper qualifications to be an electrician and begin a profitable profession within the field of electricity.

Work overview:

Electricians can be employed by electrical companies or be self-employed. The type of job that you can do depends greatly on the training and experience you have. The scope of job varies from the installation of complex electrical systems in buildings, to simple maintenance and electrical repairs in homes. Qualified electricians can work alone or be a member of a team. They also work both outdoors and indoors.

Getting qualified to become an electrician:

If you want to become a qualified electrician in the UK, the very first thing to do is to enroll in an electrical apprenticeship program. And in order to become accepted, you need to possess the following requirements:

A General Certificate of Education in English, Science, and Maths at grade C or a higher level. The skill to read and understand technical blueprints will certainly be a plus factor. After completion of this entry level, the advanced apprenticeship program is next. It usually takes around 4 years to complete the advanced program and it includes classroom type lessons learning the theories of electricity and associated subjects along with on-the-job trainings in a company where the theories you will have learned would be applied in a real environment. Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, you should have achieved a National Vocational Qualification at Level 3

Other ways to become an electrician:

For individuals who are already in another profession and wish to be a certified electrician, you might opt for electrical courses that can be taken during your free time. To possess the necessary qualifications of an electrician you are required to gain a certificate for installing, inspecting, and testing electrics under BS7671 and/or the City and Guilds 2382 or 2391.

Valuable qualities of an electrician:

An electrician must be systematic, capable of following plans and implementing them to make sure that the project meets current safety standards. An honest, reliable, punctual and trustworthy individual, who is a good problem solver and won't resort to taking shortcuts or sacrificing excellence.

Having said all of that I must point out that if you will need to hire an electrician you must always ask to see proof of their qualifications. As in any trade you will discover a great deal of good electricians around but there are also some bad ones. Be careful, it could end up costing you a lot of money.