Starting the journey to become a licensed electrician in Canada is a very rewarding endeavour. Electrical systems are vital to everyday life, and the demand for skilled professionals in this field is high. Whether you’re planning to work in residential, commercial, or industrial settings, the path to becoming a licensed electrician requires lots of training, education, and adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
In this guide, we will navigate through the essential steps, qualifications, and certifications necessary to kickstart your career in this industry. From academic prerequisites to apprenticeship opportunities, this guide will help to provide a roadmap to achieving your goal of becoming a licensed electrician in Canada.
What Is an Electrician?
An electrician is a tradesperson responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems and wiring in various settings. These settings can range from residential homes to commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and even outdoor spaces. Electricians must understand safety protocols, the operations of electrical infrastructures, and complex electrical systems, and keep on top of evolving technologies and regulations in the industry.
A few electrician duties are:
- Read blueprints, technical and architectural diagrams and wiring layouts
- installs conduit pipes and other types of electrical conductor pipes and fittings
- Install and maintain wiring, control, and different lighting systems
- Examine electrical components, such as circuit breakers
- Be able to identify electrical problems using testing devices
- Replace and repair wiring, equipment, or fixtures using a variety of tools
- Follow all building safety code
- maintain and install equipment such as switches, relays, circuit breaker panels and fuse enclosures
Types of Electricians
There are many fields in which an electrician can work once they are licensed. The ICI sector stands for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional. An electrician in one of these sectors is referred to as a construction and maintenance electrician.
Residential Electrician
Residential electricians specialize in electrical work for residential properties, including houses, condominiums, apartments, and other residential properties. They install lighting, electrical fixtures, wiring and maintain the electrical systems in residential settings.
Industrial Electrician
An industrial electrician focuses on electrical systems in areas such as factories, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and industrial facilities. They install, repair and maintain electrical equipment within these spaces to ensure they operate safely and efficiently for workers in these settings.
Commercial Electrician
A commercial electrician focuses on electrical systems within commercial buildings and properties such as restaurants, hotels, office buildings, and stores. They ensure that all electrical equipment is maintained, repaired, and operates safely for visitors and business owners in commercial settings.
Institutional Electrician
An institutional electrician works on electrical systems in institutional settings, such as hospitals, schools, government buildings, prisons, and other public facilities. Their job may include installing specialized lighting, fire alarm systems, security systems and other crucial infrastructure for these buildings.
How To Become an Electrician in Ontario
In order to become a licensed electrician in the province of Ontario, aspiring electricians must fulfill a few steps and necessary training before being able to work on electrical equipment on their own. Trade certification is compulsory in Ontario.
Step 1: Get a High School Diploma
All aspiring electricians must first complete their high school education. This is essential to get into many trades, and the electrician trade is no exception. The minimum education required for non-union electricians is to complete Grade 10, however, employers in the union sector of the electrician industry will require a full high school diploma to Grade 12, including a passed grade in Math, Physics, and English.
Step 2: Attend a Skilled Trades College
Before learning the hands-on side of the electrical industry and completing an apprenticeship, you must complete in-school training to learn the foundational knowledge and skills. Some subjects you will learn in school are:
- Electrical theory
- Understanding conductors and cables
- Learning safety codes and regulations
- Installation methods
- Sketching and circuit diagrams
- Planning for your future jobs
Aspiring electricians will need a minimum of 840 hours of school training before pursuing an apprenticeship. Your education will take place at the same time as your apprenticeship, and both are required to be eligible for certification.
Step 3: Get An Apprenticeship
While you complete your in-school education program, you will be required to find an apprenticeship to gain hands-on experience. Oftentimes your school will help you find a place to work, or if there is a certain company you want to work for you can contact them yourself. During your apprenticeship, you will be trained and work alongside licensed electricians to develop the skills and knowledge needed to become an electrician and work on your own. You will learn various techniques, practices, and safety regulations. You will be paid as an apprentice while also in school. Your employer will also be analyzing your work and will have to sign a form that indicates that you have successfully completed the required training and minimum number of hours. According to Skilled Trades Ontario, aspiring electricians must complete 9000 hours at their apprenticeship, on top of the 840 hours of in-school training. In total, this training should take approximately five years to complete. Upon completion of your apprenticeship, you will receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development.
Step 5: Write the Certification of Qualification Exam
After receiving your Certificate of Apprenticeship, you will need to sit the Certification of Qualification Exam to become an electrician. The written exam will test your knowledge on theory and practical questions about the trade. If you fail the exam, you are able to re-write it after 30 days. Upon passing, you will receive a Certificate of Qualification and become a licensed electrician in Ontario.
Step 6: Red Seal Certification
In order to work as a licensed electrician in Ontario, the Certificate of Qualification is all you need. However, many electricians choose to obtain the Red Seal Certification to be able to work as an electrician in any province or territory in Canada. This is an interprovincial certification that requires you to write another knowledge and skills exam about the trade.
How To Become an Electrician in Alberta
To become an electrician in Alberta, training and written exams are compulsory to obtain a license. You must complete the required education and training before receiving your license.
Step 1: Get a High School Diploma
All aspiring electricians in Alberta must complete their high school education or earn a GED before continuing to an apprenticeship program. You must take courses such as Math, Physics, and Calculus. These courses will help you in your career as an electrician, as a lot of your daily work will involve having math skills.
Step 2: Complete Training and Find an Apprenticeship Program
After receiving your high school diploma, you can apply for an apprenticeship program of four years under Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. This apprenticeship will allow you to work under a licensed and experienced electrician and learn the skills and knowledge needed to work independently. While working at your apprenticeship, you will also be required to have in-school learning. The first three years of your program will include 1560 hours of on-site training, and 8 weeks per year of in-school training. Your fourth and final year will include 1440 hours of on-site training, and 12 weeks of in-school training.
Step 3: Obtain Your Trade Certificate
After completing your apprenticeship program, you will need to write and pass a theory and knowledge exam and complete the Trades Competency Verification (TCV) by studying the Electrician Trade Competency Verification (TCV) Book. This is an exam to assess your practical skills that meet industry standards in order to become a journeyperson. Upon passing both exams, you will receive your journeyperson certification from the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and officially be able to work as a licensed electrician.
Step 4: Red Seal Certification
The Red Seal Certification is available to all electricians after completing the necessary training and skill exams. You can choose to obtain the Red Seal Certification in order to work in any province or territory in Canada.
How To Become an Electrician In British Columbia
In British Columbia, electrician trade certification is not mandatory. The steps to become an electrician are like other provinces but it is not compulsory to have a full license to practice in the trade. However, many employers will prefer people who have gone through the relevant education and training.
Step 1: Complete High School
Aspiring electricians may complete their high school education within the last five years with Math, Physics and Pre-Calculus courses. They should also demonstrate an interest in electrical systems and mechanics.
Step 2: Get an Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship will include both on-site training and classroom training. All aspiring electricians must complete a program of four years, which includes 6000 hours of on-the-job training and 1200 hours of classroom training. After completing the required hours, you will be able to write the interprovincial Red Seal Exam.
Step 3: Write the Red Seal Exam
You must pass the Red Seal which will allow you to become a licensed electrician in BC and any other province or territory in Canada. You will then receive a BC Certificate of Apprenticeship, BC Certificate of Qualification, and the Red Seal Endorsement altogether. If you are a worker with significant experience in the trade, you may be able to challenge the certification exam to earn the Certificate of Qualification without completing an entire apprenticeship. To get more information on the qualifications of this route, you can research SkilledTradesBC.
How To Become an Electrician In Quebec
To get your electrician license in Quebec, there is mandatory education, training, and exams to complete. Most programs in Quebec will only be offered in French.
Step 1: Complete High School
Graduating and receiving a high school diploma is mandatory in order to continue pursuing an electrician license in Quebec. Most aspiring electricians will have to pass courses in Math, Physics and Calculus.
Step 2: Complete an Apprenticeship
Aspiring electricians have to complete an apprenticeship to gain hands-on experience under the supervision of a licensed electrician. You will need to complete a four- or five-year program that includes classroom training and an apprenticeship or have over five years of relevant experience in the trade. Upon writing an exam that tests your practical skills and knowledge, you will obtain a certificate from the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité Sociale.
Step 3: Get Red Seal Endorsement
After obtaining a journeyperson certificate and becoming a licensed electrician, you may choose to take the Red Seal exam in order to be able to work in every province and territory in Canada.
How to Get Your Master Electrician License
A Master Electrician license is required if you plan to operate your own electrician business or supervise other licensed electricians and work alongside them. Master electricians have advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in electrical work and are often licensed or certified to supervise and oversee electrical projects. They may specialize in a particular area of electrical work or work across multiple sectors. As a Master Electrician, you may not perform any electrical services unless you obtain your Electrical Contractors License in addition to your current license.
Minimum Requirements for Master Electrician License
To become a Master Electrician, you must have at least the following:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a certified journeyperson already with valid qualifications and certificates
- Already be practicing in the electrician trade
- Work for an electrical contractor
Pass the Master Electrician Exam
The Master Electrician exam is only offered through the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). ESA and other organizations have classroom training to help you study for the exam.
Update Your Resume With Your Electrician License
Now that you have acquired the necessary qualifications and are a licensed electrician, you can begin seeking electrician roles. If you have built a relationship with the employer that you completed your apprenticeship with, there is a possibility that they may extend a full-time opportunity to you. If you are applying to different companies, it is crucial to update your resume with all your new certifications and begin sending it out. Ensure that your resume showcases your Certificate of Qualification, education, apprenticeship training, and if applicable, your Red Seal Endorsement. It is a good habit to tailor each of your applications to the requirements and preferences of the employer and emphasize your skillset that aligns with the needs of an electrician.
Prepare For Interviews
Once your resume catches the attention of hiring managers, you will most likely be invited to interview for the electrician role. It is important to prepare in advance to be ready for the interview. One effective strategy involves guessing the questions the hiring manager may ask, enabling you to formulate well-thought-out responses. This will enhance your ability to make a positive initial impression on the hiring team, ultimately increasing your likelihood of securing a job offer.
Licensed Electrician Careers
The electrical industry is constantly changing with new regulations, trends, safety codes and skills to learn. It is important to stay on top of these changes and continue to take the necessary steps to keep your license up to date.
There are many career options available after becoming a certified journeyman electrician. After you obtain your Certificate of Qualification, you can look into career options in the electrical industry or take continuing education and other training programs. Some career options are:
- Electrical contractor
- Electrical engineer
- Safety inspector
- Instructor
- Project manager
Being a Licensed Electrician Pro at HomeStars
If you are already an Electrician Pro at HomeStars, there are many ways for you to grow your electrician business and attract customers for yourself as an electrician contractor. To get started, you can get in touch with us to ensure your electrician business is thriving in the electrical industry and being found by homeowners who are looking for an Electrician Pro.
