How to Become a Commercial Electrician

Electricians often work with electrical wiring.

Electricity is in constant use throughout the world. It is relied on to illuminate our houses in the evening, cook our meals and power our computers. When there is an electrical problem, the essential components of our lives suffer. Commercial electricians are trained to respond to and fix these problems.



According to DegreeFinders.com, employment for electricians is expected to increase 7 percent between 2006 and 2016. Electricians who have specialized training in data, voice and video wiring will have the best opportunity to find jobs.



The average salary for a commercial electrician as of July 2010 is approximately $36,000, according to Indeed.com.

Instructions

1. Obtain your high school diploma or GED in order to attend a four-year apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship programs provide instruction and on-the-job training. Several vocational and technical schools also offer training for commercial electricians.

2. Learn to install and maintain wiring, fuses and other electrical mechanisms. Commercial electricians setup and maintain the electrical equipment in factories and other large buildings. They also connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, electrical boxes and outlets.

3. Learn how to read blueprints to locate outlets, panel boards, circuits, load centers and electrical equipment.

4. Find out your state’s licensing requirements. While the requirements will vary by state, most states require candidates to pass an examination.

Tips & Warnings

• Commercial electricians must have strong manual agility. They should also be in good physical shape and have a sense of balance. Strong hand-eye coordination is also required. Because commercial electricians have to often identify electrical wiring by color, they must have good color vision.

• If you do not have a commercial license, you will not be able to work unsupervised. This will lower your earnings, as you will have to pay for a supervising, licensed electrician.

References

• Degree Finders: How to Become an Electrician
• Indeed: Commercial Electrician Salary
• Voltage and Watts