An electrician’s apprentice is someone who works under the supervision of a licensed electrician in order to gain hands-on experience and learn the trade. This can be done as part of a class or licensing coursework, or an individual who makes a deal with a local professional. In some cases, whether before, during, or after formal education, an apprenticeship may be required to obtain a license.
In most areas, aspiring electricians must complete a formal course at a trade school or technical college. As part of their education, some students may choose to work as an electrician’s apprentice while still in school. Alternatively, an electrician may obtain a license while still in school, followed a required apprenticeship before being allowed to work on his own. In any case, an electrician’s apprentice usually works in the field with a master electrician on a variety of projects.
Apprentice electricians are frequently hired as employees and paid for their work. The length of time an electrician’s apprentice must work varies depending on where they live. Some people only need to apprentice for a few months, while others may need to work for years. While it is possible to obtain a license without an apprenticeship in many cases, a master electrician must first work for another electrician before starting his or her own business. The pay for licensed apprentices is typically much higher than that of helpers.
An electrician’s apprentice and an electrician’s intern are two different things. An apprentice is usually paid for their work and is hired as an employee, whereas an intern is usually not paid and only works a few hours per week. Although an apprenticeship is often preferred, either option may be a viable path to becoming an electrician.
Apprenticeships can be completed on school grounds while a student is still in school. This is especially true for students studying industrial electricity as opposed to commercial or residential electricity. Those who are unable to complete tasks on-site may accompany a school instructor to job sites to complete an apprenticeship. School-based apprenticeships have both positive and negative aspects. If a student and instructor do not get along, there is usually no other professional to work with until the course is finished. It does, however, save time for the student because he or she will not have to go out and find an apprentice.