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January 17, 2024

How Long Does it Take to Become an Electrician?

electrician working

Many people, when examining their career options, wonder how long it takes to become an electrician. IEC Rocky Mountain has trained countless electricians to excel in the field. In this guide, we’ll tell you what you need to know about how long the process takes. 

What Does an Electrician Do?

Electricians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems in both residential and commercial environments. The career of both types typically starts with an apprenticeship program, like the one offered at IEC Rocky Mountain. This means that electricians start their careers performing simple tasks and work their way to the most complex demands of the job. 

Residential electricians focus on homes. They handle tasks like wiring, installing outlets, and ensuring that the electrical system in a home is safe for its occupants. Commercial electricians, on the other hand, work in business and industrial environments. They deal with more complex systems, such as large-scale lighting and machinery power supplies.

What are the Benefits of Being an Electrician?

As you begin your search for what you want to do for a living or what new career path you may want to explore, there are an endless number of options available to you. There is no one right job that fits everyone. We all have different tastes and proclivities. However, for those who like working with their hands, becoming an electrician offers a number of benefits that make it an excellent career choice:

  1. Stable and Growing Job Market: The new construction industry is growing, and existing buildings are always in need of electrical services. Combine that with the fact that electrical work isn’t easily automated, and you have a stable job market that’s only expanding in opportunity.
  1. Competitive Salary: Being an in-demand and highly-skilled profession, expert electricians are paid very well for the work that they do. In addition, electricians often get paid for the training they receive through apprenticeships.
  1. Self-Employment Opportunities: Many people dream of owning their own business, being in control of their financial future, and being able to dictate the policies under which they work. Once training is complete, expert electricians can branch out on their own.
  1. Variety of Work Environments: Some jobs require the employee to spend all day, every day in the same office or work environment. Electricians move around from location to location, covering a variety of work environments.
  1. Hands-On Work: For those who like to work with their hands, being stuck in an office job can feel like torture. Becoming an electrician allows you to perform practical, hands-on worth that gives you a strong sense of accomplishment at the end of the workday.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician? 

How long it takes to become an electrician is a multi-faceted question. The timeline varies depending on the level of expertise and specialization you want to achieve.

The first step to becoming an electrician is typically entering an apprenticeship. You can start this phase of your electrical career almost immediately. While working as an apprentice electrician and taking classes to complement the work, you’ll learn the skills necessary to become a journeyman electrician.

After completing your apprenticeship, which typically lasts about four years, you’ll have the skills to become a journeyman electrician. At this stage of your career, you’ll be able to work independently on complex tasks and take on greater responsibilities.

The path from apprenticeship to journeyman ends your formal education, but the learning doesn’t stop there. After a few more years of continuing education and extensive hands-on experience, journeyman electricians can become master electricians. At this level, electricians are often involved in planning and designing electrical systems, supervising large projects, and perhaps even running their own contracting business.

Get on the Fast Lane to Becoming an Electrician with IEC Rocky Mountain

If you’ve decided that a job as an electrician is a path you want to pursue, IEC Rocky Mountain can help. Our apprenticeship program will help you find a job to begin your own job training with. Then, our school will provide with a direct path to learning the skills you need to become a journeyman. Because you’re getting paid as you learn, you’ll graduate the program debt-free. To learn more, contact us today.

Image by benixs/ shutterstock.com

IECRM Self-Pay Tuition Policy

 

Self-pay students who are employed with a member company must register and pay through the member company using the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process in order to qualify for member rates.

Self-pay students that are employed with a member company but that do not register and pay through the member will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who are employed with a member company and require a payment plan will not qualify for the member rate and will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who do not work for a member company will continue to be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


To maximize association/membership benefits, ALL member companies are encouraged to register and pay for all enrolled apprentices utilizing internal payment arrangements and processes between employer and employee.


We value our IECRM members and apprentice community. We encourage all apprentices to be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship program, earning, and learning their way toward Journeyworker licensure. We encourage all members to utilize the member discount for tuition, books and applicable fees to ensure the long-term support and success of the next-generation electrician.


(Payment Plans are available, please reference the Self Pay Payment Plan Policy.)


Self-Pay Payment Plan Policy


We offer the following arrangements for students that are unable to pay in full at the time of registration.


● Self-pay students will be charged the non-member rate.
● A 50% down payment of total semester tuition, books and applicable fees are due at registration.
● Remaining balance can be divided up to 3 additional monthly payments ($10.00 processing fee applies on each installment)
● All payments that are declined will incur a $20.00 NSF fee.

 

We encourage all students who are employed with a member company to work with their employer to register and pay through the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process. This will ensure the student is paying the lowest possible rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.