Electrical Technician Requirements: Education, Job, and Certification

Electrical Technician Requirements: Education, Job, and Certification

This post provides complete information on the requirements you will be expected to meet if you are starting and building a career as an electrical technician.

It shows the educational, job, and certification requirements associated with becoming an electrical technician and building a successful career.

Please, read on:

Electrical Technician Requirements for Career Success

If you are seeking to become an electrical technician, here are major requirements you may be expected to fulfill in building a great career:

1. Electrical Technician Educational Requirements

Finding the right education is important for prospective electrical technicians.

Below are academic programs available for prospective electrical technicians:

High School diploma or Equivalent: This program is meant for those who want to move quickly into the field.

This program teaches candidates basic knowledge in science and algebra so as to equip students for the main coursework.

Admission requirements for High School diploma:

The individual must have completed High School educational program and must have passed the required courses like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Associate’s degree: This program offers not only foundational knowledge of electrical work but also a general curricula experience.

Acquiring an associate’s degree in a field relating to electrical technology or electrical computer engineering is the best option for aspiring electrical technicians.

Employers prefer to hire an Associate degree holder than someone with a diploma. Associate’s degree program lasts for two years.

Admission requirements for Associate’s degree:

To enlist for the electrical technician Associate degree program, you must have graduated with a diploma from a High School and excelled in the required courses.

2. Electrical Technician Job Requirements

Requirements for electrical technicians might vary but in most cases, a comprehensive knowledge of basic electrical operation conduct is generally required.

To succeed in this position, there are independent requirements that professional or aspiring electrical technicians must possess. These are:

• A High School diploma or its equivalent, or an Associate degree in Electrical Engineering
• Minimum of 3 years working experience as an electrical technician
• Completion of electrician apprenticeship
• Electrician degree from a technical college
• Proper electrical system, power generation, blueprints, and maintenance, and repair knowledge
• Experience installing electrical panels and gadgets
• Ability to apply various hand and power tools
• Deep knowledge of heating and air conditioning systems
• Adequate knowledge of various appliances and test equipment.

3. Electrical Technician Certification Requirements

Certificate programs take about one year to complete and usually consist of basic courses designed to prepare electrical technicians for mastering of electricity component.

Certification means you have achieved certain performance, knowledge, skills, and abilities through provision of training by an accreditation certification agency.

Certifications improve your skills and help you to improve in your dealings with customers, employers and co-workers.

These are certifications provided by AVO training agency for electrical technicians:

• Certified Fiber Optic Technician (FOA): This program offers students various knowledge, including the limitations of bending, effect of temperature, and how to effectively splice and connect fiber optics; troubleshoot a system and confirm the quality of connections and splices, which are necessary skills to properly install and repair fiber optics systems.

Requirements: For you to be eligible for this program, you must have been practicing as an electrical contractor, electrician, IT technician, and communication technician, and any personnel that specifies, installs, and restores fiber optics systems.

• Medium-Voltage Cable Technician Certification: This certification program provides technicians with proper knowledge on how to safely splice, terminate, and install and test medium-voltage cables.

Requirements: This certification requires the completion of the two cable courses which may be completed in any order within an 18 month period.

• Medium-Voltage Cable Diagnostics & Testing Certification: This advanced hands-on preventative maintenance certification course is targeted for engineers, electrical technicians, and supervisors that test, install, maintain, repair or troubleshoot up to 5-35 kV solid dielectric and paper insulated power cables.

Requirements: This certification requires the completion of one cable course like Cable Testing & Diagnostics and Medium-Voltage. The certification will become valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

• Generation Protective Relay Maintenance Technician: This certification program impacts knowledge on the application and components of basics and complex generation relay theory.

It teaches student on how to interpret internal and external wiring diagrams and perform visual and mechanical inspections.

Requirements: This certification requires the completion of the Protective Relay Maintenance and Generation course.

Electrical Technician Responsibilities

Electrical technicians are highly skilled professionals trained to handle a wide variety of issues with electrical power, lighting, and other electrical control systems.

They work in households, wiring outlets and light fixtures, and factories, while some work outdoors, repairing electrical transformers and lane wiring, and perform other primary or peripheral electrical jobs.

Electrical technicians install, maintain, and repair electric power in rural, residential, and commercial areas.

They stay up-to-date and adhere to state safety codes, and use only approved and appropriate tools and materials.

Electrical technicians are skilled at reading blueprints or technical diagrams so as to figure out the best method for installing of new appliances, wiring, and replacing old appliance.

They are also competent in identifying problems through the use of proper devices and tools following all state and local building and safety codes.

The following list shows the major responsibilities of an electrical technician:

• He/she installs, maintains, and repairs electrical control, wiring, and lighting systems
• He/she reads and interprets technical diagrams and blueprints
• Performs general electrical maintenance and servings
• Inspect transformers and circuit breakers and other electrical systems
• Troubleshoots electrical issues with the appropriate testing tools and devices
• Adheres to National Electrical Code state and local building regulations
• Seeks the solution that costs lesser without compromising quality
• Assesses systems and suggests either repairing or replacement to prevent future issues
• Take precaution and maintain all equipment in excellent working order
• Keep a clean and organized work environment.

See detailed electrical technician job description.

Conclusion

If you are interested in becoming an electrical technician or are already in the career but needs to know how to advance and be successful in your career, this post will be helpful to you.

It provides the information you need to increase your knowledge of the educational, job, and certification requirements associated with the electrical technician career.