Electrical Construction And Maintenance

Work Information

Electricians install wiring and maintain electrical equipment such as generators and lighting systems.

Industrial electricians inspect and service electronic control devices. Electricians involved in construction work follow blueprints and specifications to install wiring. They may bend, fit, and fasten tubing inside partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and fasten small electrical boxes which house electrical devices such as switches. Electricians pull insulated wires or cables through the tubing to complete the circuits between outlets and switches. They connect the wiring to circuit breakers, transformers, and other components. They test circuit wiring for proper connections. Many electricians spend much of their time doing preventive maintenance.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to electricians.

  • connect power cable to equipment
  • connect wiring to fixtures and equipment
  • install and check control mechanisms
  • measure, cut, and install electrical tubing
  • observe and test installed wiring and equipment to ensure safety standards
  • codes are met
  • prepare cost estimates, order materials, and keep records
  • pull wire through tubing, splice, twist, and solder wires, and apply tape
  • read diagrams or blueprints and plan electrical installations
  • use mechanical hydraulic bender to shape pipe or tubing

Licensing and Certification

Electrical contractors must be licensed in Georgia.

Contact:
State Construction Industry Licensing Board
237 Coliseum Drive, Room 250
Macon, GA 31217-3858
phone:478.207.1416
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/construct/

Applicant requirements for a restricted or non-restricted electrical contractors license: (Note: These are not requirements for acceptance in to the Electrical Construction and Maintenance program and are not required prior to working for a licensed contractor. These are the requirements that must be met before a person will be allowed to take the Georgia State Electrical Contractors Examination.)

  • 21 years of age
  • four years of approved experience in the electrical field (for a non-restricted license, applicant must have experience with installations in excess of single phase, 200 amperes systems)
  • pass a written exam

(Appropriate education may satisfy up to one year of the experience requirements.)

Preparation

This is not an entry-level occupation. Employers prefer formal training from a technical school or apprenticeship program. Practical "shop" mathematics and a general interest in science could be helpful to those entering this occupation. Current school-to-career opportunities across the state may provide a variety of learning experiences. Postsecondary training is available at vocational schools in Georgia. Skills may also be acquired through apprenticeship programs. Opportunities are better for maintenance electricians in automated manufacturing plants. Often workers in a plant can bid to work as an apprentice in the maintenance area. Electrical contractors must be licensed in Georgia.

Electricians should be able to read blueprints, and use and maintain tools and test equipment. They should have a complete knowledge of electricity and an understanding of basic electronics. Maintenance electricians must have basic mechanical skills to diagnose, locate, and correct causes of breakdowns. For some firms, the ability to keep records, write reports, plan and estimate jobs, and order supplies and equipment is important.

Advancement Opportunities

Skilled electricians may advance to supervisors, superintendents, or estimators for electrical contractors. Some start their own businesses. Those with a master electrician's license may become contractors. This license is required for contracting in most large urban areas. Electricians working in the building trades can easily transfer to electrical jobs in the shipbuilding, automobile, or aircraft.

Links to Additional Information

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm
Contains information pertaining to the electrical trade for the United States (published by the US Department of Labor)

http://www.gcic.peachnet.edu/pls/gcis/Occupation.OccEntry
Click on this link then scroll down and select “Electricians”
Contains information pertaining to the electrical trade for Georgia (published by the Georgia Career Information Center)