Career Path

In this career, your responsibilities may include:

• Installing and maintaining electrical systems in buildings.
• Identifying electrical problems and performing repairs or making replacements as necessary.

Job Titles

In your job search, you may find listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at Career One Stop.

Academic Requirements

Training can occur on the job, in technical school, or through an associate degree program. Most electricians must participate in a 4-5 year apprenticeship, after which they may work independently. A certain amount of work experience or education can sometimes count toward part of the apprenticeship requirement.

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology would allow you to work as an Engineering Technologist, if you do not already have the U.S. equivalent of a bachelor’s degree. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in engineering would allow you to work as an Electrical Engineer or Electronics Engineer. Your associate degree might give you advanced standing or transfer credit toward a bachelor’s degree, reducing the time it would take you to graduate.