How One Can Train As A Los Altos Electrical Trainee
Working with electricity is a potentially dangerous job, for both the person working with it and others in the vicinity. For this reason, those who intend to become Los Altos electrical technicians are required to complete training and certification processes. Electricians, once they are certified, work in a wide range of jobs in a number of different fields.
Apprenticeships are a bit old-fashioned, but they are still the way that most electricians get their start. The field is extremely hands-on and does not translate well to coursework, so apprenticeships and on-the-job training are still the way it is mostly done. Several different broad areas of the field exist, and most certified electricians are trained in one of these fields.
An apprenticeship as an electrical technician trainee lasts for an extremely variable amount of time. Nationally, the average is 3-5 years. This compares with getting a college degree, and thus can be seen as a similar commitment. During the training period, the trainee is required to work under the supervision of a certified electrical technician at all times.
Depending on the state, there are two-year degrees given in the field, which are usually combined with shorter apprenticeships. In California, electricians work under the supervision of a certified technician as part of an apprenticeship program approved by the state, or as registered trainees. Trainees must complete a given number of hours working with different types of electrical equipment.
The coursework which is completed to get started as a trainee is generally administered by a community college or adult school. It covers some of the basics of the field, as well as the safety procedures and protocols needed to get started. Successful completion of the coursework moves the trainee on to the on-the-job portion of his or her training. This takes a number of years, less for some specializations and more for others. There is an exam required before certification is awarded.
The certification exam for general electricians requires a minimum of 8,000 hours working under the supervision of a certified technician. Less is needed for voice data video, residential and fire/life/safety technician exams, and even less for non-residential lighting technicians. These professionals require the least hours of training, at 2,000 hours minimum. Trainees must be registered as such and working under certified electricians for the hours to count.
Upon completion of the required number of hours or approved apprenticeship program, trainees must take a certification exam. This exam is open-book, and covers different topics depending on the certification being sought. It has 50-100 questions, also depending on which certification is being sought. In California, all of the exams can be taken in either English or Spanish.
Becoming a Los Altos electrical technician requires some commitment. The years of your life that will be dedicated to learning a trade are similar to the years that many people spend in college. Certification in the field opens up broad possibilities in where you can work, and the relative ease of finding a job is one reason why people pursue this type of program. If financial problems are an issue, there is both federal and state aid to apply for.
You will find a summary of the advantages you get when you use the services of a Los Altos electrical contractor and more information about a reputable electrician at http://www.losaltoselectrical.us now.
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