How to Learn House Wiring
For those interested in learning to become an electrician, the job prospects are good. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for electricians is expected to increase 12 per cent over a 10-year period ending in 2018. As of 2008, the median salary was a little more than $22 an hour. A candidate has to take classes, work alongside a licensed electrician as an apprentice, and pass a license test. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Finish your high school education, either by taking classes in person or by going through the steps to take your GED, or General Education Development exam. This is a basic requirement for anyone trying to enter the electrical trade. Community colleges and public high schools will administer the GED tests.
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Sign up to take the aptitude test at a local center offering the electrical-license training program. The purpose is to ensure your math aptitude and skills are up to par with the requirements of the job.To find your local training center, check with the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC).
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Take the required classes to learn what you need to know to wire a house. Typically, schools offer these in the evenings so that you can be serving your apprenticeship during the day. According to the BLS, the instruction and training take about four years. You will need at least 144 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year. In the classroom, apprentices learn electrical theory, blueprint reading, mathematics, electrical code requirements, and safety and first aid practices. They also may receive specialized training in soldering, communications, fire alarms and other topics.
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Find an apprenticeship position with a registered electrician. Often, the school that is offering the training classes will have the names of local businesses that work with them. You will receive wages for your work as you learn the basics of wiring in a hands-on position next to a trained electrician. You can expect to start with simple chores like pulling wire, drilling holes and holding a ladder as you watch the electrician.As you learn, the trainer will allow you to show that you can wire outlets, hang lights and perform other applications in residential wiring.
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Finish all your classes and apprenticeship to become eligible to take the Journeyman Electrician Exam, specific to your state and based on the National Electrical Code, to obtain your license. You will need to submit the results of the test along with proof of the completion of the required number of work hours and the specified fee to your state's licensing board for review. If everything is in order, you will receive a license enabling you to wire houses legally.
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