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Electrician Salisbury: How to Become a Licensed Electrician

If you need any electrical work completed, it is imperative that it is performed by a certified electrician. This ensures the work will be done correctly without spending additional time and money redoing it later.

People interested in becoming a licensed electrician Salisbury typically enrol in trade or vocational school and an apprenticeship program for electricians, which entails both classroom instruction and job site experience under an experienced master electrician.

Education and Training

Attaining the required education and training to become an electrician begins with getting an education and training license. Most states, including New York, mandate at least a high school diploma or equivalent before enrolling in an apprenticeship program to gain hands-on experience in the field. Apprenticeship programs usually last four years with each year providing around 2,000 hours of on-the-job training as well as classroom learning; some unions or trade schools sponsor such apprenticeships while other employers sponsor them to identify potential electrician candidates early in their careers.

Once you have successfully completed an apprenticeship, your state may authorise you to become a journeyman electrician and work under the supervision of a master electrician on both commercial and residential projects. Once working as a journeyman for at least two years, take an exam for master status to become eligible.

Some electricians opt to attend vocational or technical schools to gain more knowledge in electrical theory, circuitry, math, wiring and motor control necessary for their profession. Although these schools do not always accept students without high school diploma or GED certificates, these schools can still give you an invaluable foundation from which you can advance in your career and eventually become licensed electrician. Some offer online courses which may help reduce education costs as well as time spent in an apprenticeship program.

Work Experience

As with other trades, experience is key for becoming a licensed electrician Salisbury. Apprenticeship programs generally last four years and involve on-the-job training with either union or nonunion journeyman electricians; or alternatively you could complete an associate degree program at either a community college or vocational-technical school that will give you classroom and lab-based education that equips you to enter the field.

Once you’ve completed both coursework and an apprenticeship program, the next step should be applying to become a journeyman electrician. This license grants more advanced tasks to perform and is usually the highest available. While continuing working under master electrician supervision but also supervising apprentices and journeymen. Some states permit journeymen electricians to run their own contracting businesses if desired but it requires licensing to do so.

New York requires that applicants possess at least five and a half years of electrical work experience and pass an exam, in addition to either having completed a Board-approved electrician apprenticeship program or attending vocational schools registered with the State Department of Labor. When moving states, check with local licensing authorities whether your current license can transfer, or whether additional exams may be necessary.

Exams

Most states require prospective electricians to pass an exam to gain their license, as well as continuing education classes or seminars that address changes to the National Electrical Code. Certain apprenticeship programs combine coursework with on-the-job training so apprentices can quickly meet state licensing requirements.

In New York City, for instance, candidates must pass both written and practical examinations to become licensed electrician Salisbury. They should contact the Licensing and Examination Unit of the NYC Department of Buildings to schedule these exams; additionally, a background check may also be conducted prior to starting work.

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