Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Career Path as an Electrician in Canada
Have you ever thought of becoming an electrician in Canada? Well, it might surprise you to learn that this is one of the most rewarding career paths in the country. An electrician holds some of the most sought-after skills in the skilled-trades industry. Those who are already familiar with being an electrician or an electrician apprentice, know what we’re talking about. Not to mention, the pay is pretty good too – we will get to that in a minute.
Despite all that the trade has going for it, you should note that it is not an easily achieved title in Canada. The path to becoming an electrician in Canada is long and hard. Traditionally speaking, you would undergo a five-year learning process which consists of a combination of apprenticeship work and classroom studies. Now, it may seem like a lot of work, because well, it is a lot of work. The reason behind this is that you need to prove you have the skills and knowledge to work in this field safely. Having said that, in this blog, we will walk you through why exactly you should seriously consider a career as an electrician in Canada if you are already leaning in that direction.
Being an Electrician’s Apprentice: Understanding Where the Path Begins
“Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”, as quoted by Rafiki from the Lion King. Yes, it’s a beloved childhood memory for many, but also wise words! Most electricians who start their thousand-mile journey into the professional world, generally begin as electrician apprentices.
Being an apprentice, you usually have to deal with on-the-job training along with classroom studies to cover the theoretical aspects. There are many ways one could apply to be an apprentice. Generally, the most preferred method is via the College of Trades. However, there are alternatives like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), or the Association Building Contractors (ABC).
Once you’re certified, you will find yourself working in a variety of industries. Nearly every industry needs an electrician in some way, shape or form. It is a lot of work for sure, but the pay is just as good. Salary aside, there are a whole bunch of other reasons why you might want to consider this profession.
1) You Will Never Get Bored as an Electrician in Canada
If you’re worried that you might end up doing the same job day after day, well you can put those concerns to rest. If you are someone who dislikes repetition, and routine and wants to keep things interesting, then this is the career path for you. The simple fact is that every day brings its own set of problems and challenges. No two days might be the same. If you ask an electrician in Canada about this, they will likely tell you that one of the most challenging aspects of the job is thinking on the fly, meeting deadlines and trying to find creative solutions to troublesome hurdles.
2) You Get Paid as an Electrician’s Apprentice
If you’re worried about the money, then again this is a great career path to help bridge that gap. As an electrician’s apprentice, you not only learn on the job, but you earn as well. If you do it right, you could potentially complete a pre-apprenticeship electrician training course in 360 hours of class. A well-structured program will teach you everything you need to know to land a good apprenticeship, where you earn a real salary.
Here’s the cherry on top, in many cases, if employers find your skills to be top-notch, they will pay you a competitive industry salary. If you lead the pack or get lucky, you even stand a chance of earning benefits like pension and insurance! All this while you’re still learning the trade!
“Skill is only developed by hours and hours of work.” – Usain Bolt, Jamaican Runner
3) Electricians Get a Wide Range of Career Options
As we mentioned before, as an electrician in Canada, you can expect to work in several different industries. As far as your career diversity goes, you will see no shortage. If you do take it up, there are several fields that you could specialize in. This included industrial work in factories, underwater cabling, fire alarm installation, security system installation, communications and so on.
It all depends on where your interests lie and the kind of company that you join. They could be industrial contractors with a speciality in all things factory-related, or they could be part of a private security firm. It varies.
4) There Is Always a Demand for Electricians in Canada
One of the most important factors that one would consider before entering into a job is the job security aspect of it. Well, this is another thing you don’t have to worry about for the foreseeable future. Because, a report published in December 2021 by the Job Bank of Canada, pointed to the fact that job prospects for Electricians, particularly in Ontario, are expected to remain fair over the three years.
Reports and studies indicate that this trend has been growing over the past 10 years or so.
There is no shortage of work given the diverse nature of the industry. Let’s say that you want to take up a job outside of Ontario, will the prospects look pretty consistent across most of the country.
5) It Is One of the Best-Paid Skilled Trades in Canada
According to Indeed Canada, the median wage for an electrician is around CAD 71, 748 per year, in Canada. That translates to around CAD 32 per hour, which is quite substantial if you think about it. When you consider this in combination with the variety of work and steady demand for such a profession, then you realize how reliable this job can be.
We aren’t saying that you should pick a job solely for money and security. You need to decide your career path based on your passion. Having said that, money is one factor that is worth considering.
So there you have it, these are just some of the compelling reasons why you might want to consider a career as an Electrician in Canada. As far as the career itself goes, there are very few limitations or lack of choices. If you log enough classroom hours and complete your apprenticeship, you stand a good chance of starting your own practice or business. According to Job Banks Canada, this is what 15 per cent of electricians in Ontario do! If you want to know more about how to go about becoming an electrician in Canada in detail, check out this blog!
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