Many people who are interested in becoming an electrician are unsure of if they need to go to college or not. While there are a number of different educational options that one can take in order to become an Electrician, those who go to college and obtain a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering have much better career options and can end up earning quite a bit more when compared to those electricians who went to trade school or directly into an apprenticeship out of high-school. Why is it important to go to college if you want to become an electrician?
Why You Should Go to College to Become an Electrician
Although you don’t need a college education in order to become an apprentice, journeyman, or even master electrician, it does create a number of unique career opportunities that can accelerate your career as an electrician and make you more money. In most states, one of the requirements to take the Master electrician exam is to have completed 7-9 years of experience as a Journeyman. However, if you’ve obtained your Bachelors of Science you can take the Master exam as soon as you become a Journeyman which can save you 3-5 years. This allows you to rapidly advance your career and compete for Electrician planning and supervising positions.
By obtaining a college degree you also become eligible for higher level careers in the electrical field. A few examples of these are Electrical Technicians and Electrical Engineers. Electrical technicians are involved in the installation and maintenance of large pieces of electrical machinery. Electrical technicians are highly sought after in the industrial sectors and can end up working in a variety of different environments including power plants, car manufacturing plants, and textile producers.
Although it is not necessary for people to go to college or university if they want to become an electrician it is an excellent idea to pursue a degree because of the added benefits of accelerated career advancement, additional career paths, and increased salaries.