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Electrician - The Basics

 In case you're looking for an electrician auckland who can perform various tasks related to electricity including installation, troubleshooting, and repairs, then you've come to the right place. Here's a short summary of what you'll find below. For a more detailed view, please consult the other pages on this website which contain useful information. What Is An Electrician? An electrician is a person who is legally permitted to perform work related to electricity. This includes working on electricity lines, testing electricity meters, investigating electric problems, etc. In order to become an electrician, one must graduate from an accredited technical school with an electrician certificate. After passing the licensing exam, one can then apply for jobs in the field. Once accepted into a contracting company, a must-do is set up an apprenticeship which typically lasts two to three years. Why Is Hiring An Electrician A Smart Decision? There are several reasons why hiring an electrician is a smart decision. To begin with, skilled labor is much more expensive than common labor. This is mainly because there aren't too many people who have the training and experience necessary to do the job. In case you're wondering, labor typically costs between $20 and $30 per hour. For example, a handyman who has worked for several years and has done some electrical work on his own may charge you $25 per hour. However, it's not unusual for skilled tradespeople to charge more than $40 per hour. This is mostly due to the fact that they have to specifically get the job done right the first time. In case you're wondering, the reason why hiring an electrician is so expensive is because there aren't too many people who can do the work. In some areas, there might only be a handful of electricians who can perform certain tasks. In those cases, it may be cheaper to hire an apprentice who is in college and simply pay for his or her tuition than to hire an experienced electrician. However, if you want an electrician to perform certain tasks, you'll have to hire someone who is experienced because there isn't anyone available who is willing to train for your specific needs. In the long term, you'll save a lot of money by hiring an electrician because you won't have to pay for labor anymore. The only cost you'll incur is the stuff they bring with them (i.e. tools, fixtures, etc.). What Does An Electrician Do? An electrician does a lot of things related to electricity including installation, repairs, and maintenance. To give you an idea of the scope of work, here's a short summary of what an electrician does: Sets up telephone and computer networks Installs ceiling fans Installs and wires residential appliances (i.e. dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.) Repairs and maintains electrical systems including lighting, heating, and power distribution Performs electrical diagnostics, repairs, and maintenance on commercial and industrial equipment (e.g. boilers, compressors, motors, etc.) Tests and certifies commercial and residential electricity consumption Makes sure electric systems are up to code Trains others in his or her trade As you can see above, an electrician does a lot of things related to electricity. Since not everyone will have expertise in all areas of electricity, the above list should give you a good idea of the everyday tasks an electrician will need to perform. Depending on the size of your organization, you might want to specialize in some areas (i.e. certain types of electrical equipment) and leave the rest to the experts. Education And Training To become an electrician, a person must first attend and graduate from an accredited technical school with an electrician certificate. After this, one can apply for jobs in the field. If you're interested in this line of work, then there's no time to waste. You'll need to make sure that you apply to as many schools as possible while making sure that you attend a school that's close to your home. This way, you'll be able to easily commute to school and be able to attend class regularly. Throughout the training, you'll gain hands-on experience by doing a variety of tasks under the supervision of an experienced electrician. Since there aren't that many people who know how to do these things, it's likely that you'll have to do a lot of the work yourself. However, don't be discouraged. This is how you'll learn the most and get the best training possible. Licensing And Apprenticeships After you graduate from an accredited technical school with an electrician certificate, you can either go straight into a job or get an apprenticeship under a professional electrician. To be able to perform the job, you'll need to pass a licensing exam (i.e. PSC or TSE). Once you get the license, you can then apply for jobs in the field. While in most cases, you'll need to hire an electrician to get the license, you can also choose to learn on your own (i.e. via an on-line learning program) as long as you meet the criteria listed above. In case you're wondering, you don't need a license to be an electrician. However, if you decide to do some freelance work, then you'll need to apply for a contractor's license from the government. This is the only way you're legally permitted to work for others as an electrician (i.e. you can't work for yourself unless you have a license). Salary And Job Promotion Electricians who have worked for several years can expect to make between $20,000 and $40,000 annually. Of course, this depends on what kind of work you do. For instance, electricians who have installed and maintained electrical systems for large companies may make a lot more money than those who have installed ceiling fans or made small repairs. Since there aren't many opportunities in this field, it's essential that you get as much experience as you can while you're young. This way, you'll be able to secure a high-quality position once you're established in the field. If you're looking for a new challenge, then you might consider this line of work. However, it's not for everyone. If you're not willing to learn and take on any new responsibilities, then maybe another line of work is for you.

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