Electrical Apprenticeships

Electrician

Alternative Career Options

Electrical Engineer

Job Overview: Electricians install, maintain and repair electrical wiring and electronic equipment. Electricians work indoors in buildings that are under construction, being repaired or altered, and outdoors on projects such as power supply cables and street lighting.

ALTERNATIVE TITLES
The following jobs are also experiencing skill shortages in the Taranaki region and are related to the electrical industry:
Electrical Engineer
Instrumentation
Electrical Fitter
Power TechnicianCommercial/Industrial Electrician
Domestic Electrician
Maintenance Electrician
Electrical Contractor

Electrical Engineer

TASKS AND DUTIES
Day-to-day tasks for electricians include:
study and interpret wiring diagrams
install and maintain electrical wiring and equipment
repair or replace faulty electrical equipment
service electrical machines
research and purchase the correct materials and equipment
test electrical work for safety
keep records of the problems they find with electrical equipment and the servicing they carry out

TRAITS OF A GOOD ELECTRICIAN
Electricians need to have:
-good technical and problem-solving skills for diagnosing electrical problems and installing electrical cables, equipment and fittings
-skills in using tools for testing, repairing and replacing electrical equipment
-skills in making calculations and interpreting drawings
-excellent communication, listening and record keeping skills
-computer skills are also an advantage
-knowledge of safe working procedures and basic first aid

As an apprentice you will learn about:
-electrical theory and trade practices
-electrical legislation, codes and standards of practice
-how to draw and explain simple electrical diagrams
-test, locate and diagnose electrical faults

Electricians should be accurate, practical, methodical and safety-conscious when installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment. Electricians need to have good eyesight (with or without glasses) and normal colour vision. They also need to have good hand-eye co-ordination.

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING NEEDED
NCEA Level 1 English, Maths and Science are needed to enter into an electrical apprenticeship. However, NCEA Level 2 equivalent in these subjects is preferred. There are three ways in which you can complete your electrical apprenticeship.

The first is to gain employment with a local electrical company who will take you on as an apprentice. You train as an apprentice on-the-job and are supervised by a registered electrician throughout your training. Skills are assessed and marked off. If you progress as expected at work and with your study you can expect to finish your electrical apprenticeship in 3 to 4 years.

The second option is to do a pre-apprenticeship National Certificate in Electrical Skills. This type of study is becoming more popular as it is helpful to have some background knowledge of electrical theory and safety before working with an organisation. This training is offered locally and takes 1 year of full-time study to complete and is equivalent to 1 years of apprenticeship study. Following completion of this course you will gain employment with a local electrical company to finish off your apprenticeship training.

The third and final way in which you can complete your electrical apprenticeship is through the Electrical Training Company (ETCO) or a traineeship with an electrical company. Trainees enroll in a two week intensive training course to prepare for work. ETCO then arrange for businesses to hire you out. This is not a pre-trade or pre-employment course. As an ETCO apprentice you can get the chance to work in different parts of New Zealand.

To be able to apply for electrical registration with the Electrical Workers Registration Board, apprentices need to complete the National Certificate in Electrical Engineering or the National Certificate in Electricity Supply and pass the Electrical Regulations Exam and Electrical Theory set by the EWRB..

Useful experience for electricians includes electrical appliance repair work, or work as an electrical engineering technician or electrical labourer.

Find Training Providers in our Education Directory:
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT)

Local Industry Training Organisation (ITO)
Name: Electrical Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO)
Phone: 64 (07) 834 3038
Website: http://www.esito.org.nz

Local Apprenticeship Co-ordinator
Name: Ian Jennings
Phone: 027 481 1015
Email: ianj@esito.org.nz
Website: http://www.esito.org.nz

STUDY COSTS
The study costs for an electrical apprenticeship varies considerably. In some cases the organisation you are working for will pay for all costs associated with your apprenticeship study. Other employers pay for your study notes and/or block courses. Some employers have an agreement with their apprentices where the cost of study comes out of their wage.

In some cases the apprentice will need to cover all costs associated with their apprenticeship. Course fees can be up to $1,000 each year.

If you wish to enroll in a local pre-apprenticeship course this study will be for 1 year and cost up to $3,700.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Electricians work outdoors in fine weather conditions and indoors on buildings that are under construction, or are being repaired or altered. They often work in dangerous conditions, and may be required to work to deadlines, which can be stressful. Electricians usually work regular hours, but they may be required to work weekends and be on call.

The starting rate for first year apprentices begins at $8 per hour. This will increase each year as you become more competent and productive. Qualified and experienced electricians may earn around $50,000 per year.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES - Where can this qualification lead to in the future?
Completing an electrical apprenticeship will allow you to EARN AS YOU LEARN while training for a National Certificate NZQA qualification. This means that you will NOT have any student debt!

The outlook for electricians is good, with a high demand for qualified electricians. Major influences on employment opportunities for electricians include the state of the economy, the building construction and electricity supply industries. It is well known that Taranaki building industry is booming!

Turnover among electricians is low due to high job satisfaction. Once registered, electricians have many career options. Please refer to the alternative career options section for more information. They may be self-employed, work as supervisors, or as consultants to building construction companies, or engineering firms. In addition, new opportunities in associated areas such as the telecommunications, electronic and security industries may provide further employment opportunities.

Finally, travel is a popular career opportunity as New Zealand registered electricians are held with much regard overseas.

COMPANY PROFILES
Below is a list of Taranaki businesses that employ electricians (these are only example businesses for you to research this particular career choice). In addition, write-ups featured in the Career Profiles section provide some insight into the work environment and opportunities available within the industry.

Greaves, Taranaki wide
Sullivan Electrical, New Plymouth and Hawera
Powerco, Taranaki wide
Laser Electrical, New Plymouth and Hawera
SCHOLARSHIPS