Electricians are in high demand - start your career here!
Looking for a high voltage occupation that is challenging, secure and financially rewarding? A career as an electrician might be the right fit for you!
To work an electrician, you should:
- Have good communication and reading skills
- Be physically fit and good with your hands
- Have a knack for math and working with mechanical things
- Enjoy using tools, figuring out plans and solving problems
Electricians perform a variety of tasks on electrical systems. They need to be up to date on electrical building codes and in touch with developing electrical technologies. Electricians who specialize in new technologies such as solar power, wind power, fuel cells, wiring for smart homes and automated systems for high-tech industries are expected to be in demand.
To become an Electrician there are two ways to start.
Electrician Pathways
Foundation Program
- 24-week full-time program
- February and August intakes
- You do not need an employer to take the Electrician Foundation program! In fact, the main reason to take the Electrician Foundation program is to gain experience and knowledge about the electrical trade to make it easier for you to find an employer to sponsor you for the remaining three levels of your apprenticeship.
If you are a high school student, contact the counseling office at your high school for information on how to become a Youth Train in Trades student and get a jump-start on your trades training while you complete your high school diploma. Learn more about the Youth Train in Trades program.
Apprenticeship Program
To begin an apprenticeship to become an electrician, you must:
- Have an employer sponsor
- Register with the Industry Training Authority (ITA)
- Complete your apprenticeship training
College of the Rockies offers all three levels of Electrician Common Core technical training and Electrician, Construction Level 4 and Electrician, Industrial Level 4.
Electrician Training Schedule
| Program | Level | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Electrician (Harmonized) | FDTN | August 6, 2019 | February 7, 2020 | 24 Weeks |
| *Electrician (Harmonized) | FDTN | February 11, 2020 | July 24, 2020 | 24 Weeks |
| *Electrician (Harmonized) | FDTN | August 4, 2020 | January 29, 2021 | 24 Weeks |
| *Electrician (Harmonized) | FDTN | February 9, 2021 | July 23, 2021 | 24 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 1 | September 3, 2019 | November 8, 2019 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 1 | October 5, 2020 | December 11, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 1 | March 29, 2021 | June 4, 2021 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 2 | September 30, 2019 | December 6, 2019 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 2 | March 23, 2020 | May 29, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 2 | September 8, 2020 | November 13, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 2 | January 11, 2021 | March 19, 2021 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 3 | March 9, 2020 | May 15, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician Common Core (Harmonized) | 3 | September 28, 2020 | December 4, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician, Common Core (Harmonized) | 3 | March 29, 2021 | June 4, 2021 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician, Construction | 3 | October 7, 2019 | December 13, 2019 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician, Construction | 4 | January 6, 2020 | March 13, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician, Construction | 4 | March 16, 2020 | May 22, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician, Construction (GAP) | 4 | January 5, 2021 | January 8, 2021 | 4 Days |
| *Electrician Construction (Harmonized) | 4 | January 11, 2021 | March 19, 2021 | 10 Weeks |
| *Electrician, Industrial | 4 | June 8, 2020 | August 14, 2020 | 10 Weeks |
*Projected | All dates subject to change |
Industry Training Authority Harmonization Initiative
Harmonization is an ITA initiative to substantively align the curriculum taught in each apprenticeship level for consistency across Canada in 30 Red Seal trade apprenticeship programs by 2020. The ITA is committed to minimizing challenges to apprentices to complete their training and are supporting training providers through the Harmonization Initiative. The ITA has considered the input of industry partners as well as training providers across the province to develop transition plans to ensure that there are options for all current apprentices to complete their apprenticeship with minimal disruption. Transition plans for each trade vary and may involve Gap Training (which refers to missing or resequencing content).
For further details on transition plans, gap training or questions related to harmonization, please visit the ITA website www.itabc.ca