An electrician trainee is someone who is learning the skills needed to become a journeyman electrician who can work on their own in the field. However, the term can refer to more than one level of training; in some cases, it can refer to an entry-level worker learning the skills required to become an apprentice. In other cases, an electrician trainee is essentially a trainee who is learning the trade. The trainee in the first case is essentially a pre-apprentice, whereas the trainee in the second case is a person working toward journeyman certification.
In either case, the electrician trainee will almost certainly need to have completed high school or be working toward a diploma or equivalent qualification. Basic to moderate math skills, as well as moderate communication skills, will be required. The candidate must apply for an electrician trainee certificate, which typically entails paying an application fee and completing an application that details the candidate’s education and experience. Candidates with little or no experience who demonstrate a willingness to learn and a strong work ethic can be chosen for a position.
Apprenticeships can be difficult to come because the positions are competitive and the work is demanding. An apprenticeship can last up to four years or longer, and during that time, the apprentice will work with a journeyman electrician who will teach him or her the skills needed to succeed in the position. The trainee is likely to perform only low-level job functions early on in the apprenticeship, such as setting up a work space or performing basic cleaning tasks. As the electrician trainee’s apprenticeship progresses and he or she learns more of the skills required to perform various jobs safely and effectively, he or she may be trusted to perform more complex work.
During the apprenticeship, the electrician trainee must also complete classroom work, and the end of the apprenticeship, he or she must pass various exams in order to be certified as a journeyman electrician. This exam is difficult, and if the apprentice fails, he or she may have to continue the apprenticeship for even longer. If the trainee passes, he or she will be considered a journeyman electrician who can work without supervision as an electrician.