Electrician
What is the work like?
As a qualified electrician, you would fit, test and repair the electrical circuits and wiring found in homes and businesses. Your work might range from fitting a bathroom shower circuit in a customer's home to laying equipment cabling in a major new office development.
Your tasks would vary from job to job, but may include:
- working from plans to fit wiring, sockets and points
- carrying out an initial installation, known as the 'first fix' – fitting wiring along wall cavities and through ceilings and floors
- fitting fuse boxes, circuit-breakers and earth terminals
- mounting back-boxes on walls to take plug sockets and points
- carrying out a 'second fix' – connecting wiring to sockets, switches, light fittings and appliances.
On commercial projects your tasks would be on a larger scale, for example:
- laying the cabling connecting office equipment to power supplies and computer networks
- installing fire alarms and security systems like CCTV
- inspecting and testing wiring systems and equipment
- fixing faults highlighted by inspections – known as remedial repair work.
See the job profile for Industrial Electrician for more details about working in manufacturing and engineering.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To qualify as an electrician, you must have the Electrotechnical Services NVQ at Level 3, which is awarded by City & Guilds and EMTA Awards Limited. If you are already working in the industry but do not have the NVQ, please refer straight to the training and development section below.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme with an electrical contractor. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
If you are not eligible for an apprenticeship scheme and not employed in the industry, you could take the City & Guilds (2330) Technical Certificate in Electrotechnical Technology levels 2 and 3 at a college.
The Technical certificates cover the theory and some of the practical skills needed for the NVQ. However, to become fully qualified you must complete the work-based NVQ.
There is strong competition for places on the courses, and college entry requirements will often include an aptitude test. Due to health and safety regulations, you may not be able to complete a training course if you are colour-blind. Check with your chosen college about restrictions and whether they can offer you a colour vision assessment test.
Industry bodies strongly recommend that you gain a placement or employment with an electrical contractor as soon as possible after you start the technical certificate, so that you can complete the NVQ. Your training provider may help with placements but you could also contact companies directly.
See the SummitSkills website for more details about a career as an electrician.
Overseas qualified electricians
If you have qualified as an electrician outside the UK, you must register with the Electrotechnical Card Scheme (ECS). You will need to do three things to register:
- contact UK NARIC to find out what your qualifications are equivalent to in the UK
- complete the City & Guilds 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations (2382)
- pass the ECS Health and Safety Assessment.
You will also need to contact the self-certification training providers below for details about of how to meet Part P requirements of the Building Regulations.
Electricians with pre-1996 qualifications
If you qualified as an electrician before the NVQs were introduced, you should contact the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry (JIB), who will assess your experience and qualifications to decide whether or not you sufficiently meet their requirements. They will be able to tell you if you need to take further qualifications.
What further training and development can I do?
If you are working in the industry, you can qualify as an electrician by taking the Electrotechnical Services NVQ at Level 3, awarded by City & Guilds or EMTA Awards Limited.
The NVQ contains several options but for installation work, you would take the Electrical Installation (Building & Structures) option.
Your employer may ask you to take two other qualifications:
- City & Guilds (2391) Inspection, Testing and Certification of Installations
- City & Guilds (2382) 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations.
You could also take further professional development courses, for example the City & Guilds In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (2377), often known as portable appliance testing (PAT). Visit the Electrical Contractors' Association website for details about training in the electrical industry, including contract management, contract law and estimating.
Electrical Safety and Part P
Part P of the Building Regulations states that certain types of household electrical work must be approved by a certified contractor or building inspector. You can certify your own work by completing a short Part P training scheme. See the Part P contacts below for details about certification training, entry requirements and information about the electrical work that requires approval.
Entry requirements for a scheme will depend on your qualifications and experience. Some providers offer extra training if you need it, for instance, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations. Some do not, so please check with the providers.
Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme
The Traditional Building Skills Bursary scheme aims to address skills shortages within the traditional crafts and built heritage sector, by offering bursaries and organising work-based training placements for eligible applicants.
To find out more about the scheme, eligibility and what placements are available, visit the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme website.
Where can I go for more information?
Part P Self-Certification Schemes
NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme
Tel: 0870 013 0382
www.niceic.org.uk
BRE Certification
Tel: 0870 609 6093
www.partp.co.uk
ELECSA
Tel: 0870 749 0080
www.elecsa.org.uk
British Standards Institution
Tel: 01442 278607
www.bsi-global.com
National Association of Inspectors & Testers
Tel: 0870 444 1392
www.napit.org.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries can be up to £19,500 a year.
- With experience, this can rise to between £22,000 and £25,000.
- Experienced electricians with specialist grading can earn up to £30,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work a basic 37-hour week, Monday to Friday, with overtime often available. You may have to work shifts or be part of an on-call system, for example, if providing 24-hour cover.
Most of your time would be spent inside homes and business premises. You would travel from site to site and some contracts may involve working away from home.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good practical skills to work with hand and power tools
- the ability to follow technical drawings and instructions
- a methodical approach to work and the ability to pay close attention to detail
- a commitment to keep up to date with industry developments
- the ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team
- good communication skills
- a thorough understanding of electrical safety rules and regulations.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work with electrical contractors and building firms, manufacturing and engineering companies, kitchen, bathroom and shopfitting companies, local authorities and the NHS. Self-employment is another common option.
With experience, you could move into supervisory and management roles in all areas of electrical work. You may also find openings in electrical estimating and contract management.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
bConstructive (for list of building firms)
Construction Jobs Network
Jobcentre Plus
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
