Should You Choose Electrician Certification? Answers to Common Questions

Is electrician certification the right career move? If you've considered this field, take a look at the following information to learn whether electrician trade school is right for you.

Are You Well-Suited to the Electrical Field?

Electricians work in a variety of settings and perform an array of different electrical tasks. This means you'll find work environments and aspects of job-related activities that match almost every type of personality. Balance is the key to finding the just-right match. Review the most common duties electricians perform and decide how your personality factors into them. These duties include:

• Installation. Electricians install wiring, lighting, and other electrical appliances/devices in residential and commercial settings. These activities require concentration and a detail-oriented type of personality.
• Evaluate and inspect. Electricians evaluate, assess, and inspect electrical systems. This includes wiring, electrical boxes/circuit breakers, appliances, and other related items. These activities require a critical, logical type of personality.
• Repair. Electricians repair all aspects of residential and commercial electrical systems. These jobs fit a variety of personalities and may require an extrovert (to communicate with customers) who is detail-oriented and logical-thinking.
• Read diagrams. Electricians may have to read blueprints or other types of technical diagrams for installation and repair purposes. This activity is suited well to shy introverts who think logically and critically.

If these duties and activities appeal to you or match your existing personal skill-set, electrical training is an option to seriously explore.

How Can You Decide Whether Electrician Trade School Is Right for You?

The answer to this question depends on how well you know yourself and how well you know the profession. If you're still not clear on whether this type of trade program is right for you

• Talk to various electricians. Get the inside scoop on the field from someone with years of experience. If the first professional you speak to doesn't make the job sound like the right match for you, talk to someone else who works in a dramatically different job/setting.
• Job shadow. Ask a licensed electrician (or a few) if you can follow them during a typical workday. This gives you a realistic idea of what to expect.

The more professionals you meet in the field, the more you'll better understand your options. If you're not sure how to connect with electricians, look to local or national associations/organizations, a local training/apprenticeship program, or ask an instructor/staff member from an electrical trade school program.

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