Discover the Right Electrical Contractor Training for You

The first thing you must be aware of if you want to become an electrical contractor is that you need proper electrical contractor training. This will lead towards gaining a certificate which in turn will provide peace of mind to your clients and proof that you know what you are doing.

Let’s find out more about training to be an electrician now.

Do you have to decide what type of contractor you want to be before you embark on a training course?

Yes, there are four different categories of electricians in South Africa. You must choose the appropriate course so you gain the required skills in that area.

For example there is a course to become an electrician. But you can also become an electrical contractor in the engineering or mining industries. You may also want to go into construction, so you must decide which route to take before choosing the appropriate course.

What type of training do you have to undergo?

While the specific training course will depend on which route you take, in every case you will take part in an apprenticeship. This is highly advantageous because it does not restrict you to classroom learning. Instead you will learn alongside someone who is already a qualified electrician.

Of course you must do the required amount of written work and appropriate studying. But it also helps to get the practical experience as you go along. The nature of being an electrician – regardless of the area you go into – means you cannot simply do the classroom work without having practical experience. Following an experienced electrician will ensure you get this amount of experience under your belt during the training procedure.

Do you have to pass any kind of exam or test in order to qualify?

Yes, there is a Trade Test that is required in order to complete your training and be properly qualified. This requires that you have a minimum of three years of experience in the field, and this must be provable. You will also need to have studied and completed N2 Electrical Trade Theory as an absolute minimum.

Once you have this and you have passed the Trade Test, you can then call yourself a properly qualified electrician and embark on your career.

Is there any quicker way to become an electrician?

No – three years is the quickest path to achieving your goal. This is assuming you have also gone through the training modules known as M0 to M7, with a proper training provider that has been officially accredited as such. Without this you’ll need five years worth of practical experience along with the N2 Electrical Trade Theory.

However once you have passed you will have a proper skill you can use to earn money in lots of different jobs. If you have the natural ability and the determination to learn everything about this job, you could be assured of a good skill and a good career path to follow long into the future.

5 Different Types of Electrical Contractor Jobs you Should Consider

Once you are qualified as an electrical contractor you can look forward to scouring the jobs market for electrical contractor jobs. You will soon find there are plenty of them to consider. Indeed if you have not yet embarked on your training for this role you might want to explore the possibilities that will be open to you in the future.

Here are some examples of jobs available to electrical contractors and what you can expect to find.

1 - Electrical contractor

This is a position you will often see advertised in South Africa. You will have to read the individual job details to find out more about it, as it can cover all manner of tasks and areas. One thing to bear in mind is that many electrical contractor jobs can be for short term projects or indeed for long term ones. Always make sure you read the details before you go any further.

2 - Superintendent electrical

In this job you will have more responsibility than you would in a general electrical contractor position. As such you may also be required to supervise other people and thus have experience in this area. each individual post will have further information about further qualifications and/or experience you may be required to have.

3 - Senior electrical engineer

You may also see a position for a master engineer, and in either case you will need to have experience and the appropriate qualifications in electrical engineering. You will also need to have experience as an electrician before you move up to this more senior position.

4 - Electrical maintenance and project assistant

Many electrical jobs will be concerned with maintenance. This position adds in a further responsibility – that of project assistant as well. Some companies will look for electricians who can also work as project assistants in order to complete projects on time and on budget. As you can imagine there is the potential to earn more money in this case, but you must have experience on the job to be considered.

5 - Electrical site supervisor

As you may guess from the title, this job requires you to take control of a site to ensure all electrical work is done correctly and at the right time. You will oversee all installation work and oversee those who will complete it. It is a good stepping stone for developing your career once you have experience as an electrician.

As you may be aware, there are different areas for you to consider going into when it comes to training as an electrician. For example if you want to work on construction sites in South Africa you should take and pass the training to become a construction electrician. So before you embark on your training consider which particular electrician position you would most like, and choose the right training path from there.

This will ensure you can plan out your future career as an electrician and consider a range of electrical contractor training once you have qualified. As you can see from the above, there are lots to choose from.