
Alternative power sources are becoming more popular. As a result, the need for electricians is projected to grow. This is expected to happen at more than double the rate of other construction trades.
An electrician is a skilled tradesperson. They specialize in the design, installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems. But not every electrician alike! Let’s take a look closer look at the different types of electricians.
Different Types of Electricians
There are types of electricians, depending on their level of qualification. We can first split them into two initial categories:
- Linesmen – Linesmen are also known as outdoor electricians. They specialize in managing high voltage lines for commercial, residential, and industrial facilities.
- Wiremen – Wiremen are also known as indoor electricians. They specialize in working with the lower voltages you find inside buildings. Wiremen work with residential, commercial, and industrial systems.
Electricians are then further broken down depending on their level of qualification.
Apprentice Electrician
An apprentice electrician is beginning to start working in the field. You need a high school diploma (or equivalent) to apply. Apprentices will have usually completed a few hundred classroom hours before starting work. They work under the guidance of a journeyman electrician.
Journeyman Electrician
After their apprenticeship is complete, electricians take the test to become a journeyman electrician. A Journeymen linesmen would need a qualification as a level 2 electrician. They are recognized by the licensing bodies for the electrical trade.
A journeyman electrician can work alone but usually works under a master electrician. They can carry out emergency repair work on electrical systems. They are also responsible for installing new systems and training apprentices.
Master Electrician
The master electrician is the highest qualified. They must have At least seven years’ experience in their field. They’re the highest paid in the field and will be in charge of all other electricians at a job site.
They can work on any kind of electrical project unsupervised. They can also train journeyman electricians up to their level.
Electrical Specialties
Electricians are then further broken down into their area of specialization. Each specific field requires its own set of qualifications and training. The different fields include:
- Industrial Electricians – Industrial electricians work in factories, processing plants, and power plants. They work with complex machinery, but will also work on security and lighting systems.
- Commercial Electricians – Commercial electricians work in offices and other workplaces. They design and install electrical systems when new buildings are being built.
- Residential Electricians – Residential electricians work in homes. They are responsible for installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting domestic electrical systems. They also repair household appliances.
- Maintenance Electricians – A maintenance electrician works across all three sectors. They are responsible for maintaining, repairing, and upgrading electrical equipment.
- Auto Electricians – An auto electrician specializes in the electrical systems found in cars and other vehicles.
Electrical Safety
We need different types of electricians to ensure electrical safety across all sectors. This guide should provide you with everything you need to know about the levels of electricians and their fields of specialty.
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