Hagley Community College
Electrician Kaimahi Hiko
Electricians test, install, maintain and repair electrical systems and equipment.
Electricians need to be registered with the Electrical Workers Registration Board, unless they:
- are going to work under the supervision of somebody else who is registered
- need extra work experience while they are training, in which case they need a Limited Certificate.
Electricians need to complete a competency programme every two years to refresh their knowledge and renew their licence.
Electricians may do some or all of the following:
- interpret electrical information on diagrams and plans
- check for errors in diagrams and plans
- install electrical wiring and equipment
- repair and replace electrical wiring, parts and equipment
- safety-test work
- keep records of problems they find, and the work they do
- prepare job and other quotes, or provide information for quotes.
Physical Requirements
Electricians need to:
- have normal colour vision, to identify different-coloured cables
- be reasonably fit, healthy and strong, as the work involves climbing and lifting
- be comfortable working in confined spaces and at heights, as they may need to crawl through tight spaces under buildings and above ceilings.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for electricians includes construction or engineering work.
Personal Qualities
Electricians need to be:
- accurate and methodical
- practical and logical
- good communicators
- able to work well alone or in a team
- safety-conscious
- good at problem solving.
Skills
Electricians need to have knowledge of:
- electrical theory, laws, codes, and standards of practice
- how to install electrical wiring and fixtures
- how to draw wiring diagrams and floor plans
- basic maths and physics
- safety procedures and first aid.
Self-employed electricians must also have business skills.
Conditions
Electricians:
- usually work regular business hours, but may work weekends, public holidays, or be on call
- may work at construction sites or in buildings, power generation stations or substations
- may work at heights and in enclosed, noisy, dirty, dusty, or hazardous conditions
- travel to local worksites.
Subject Recommendations
You need NCEA Level 2 to do the study or training for this job.
For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.
These programmes may help you gain an apprenticeship, but do not reduce the amount of time it takes to complete it.
Electricians can earn around $31-$51 per hour.
Chances of getting a job as a Electrician are good due to a shortage of people interested in this type of work.
Pay for electricians varies depending on skills, experience and the type of work they do.
- Electricians usually earn $31-$51 per hour.
- Electricians can earn $23-$63 an hour.
Source: TEC research.
Electricians may progress to:
- project managers
- consultants at building construction companies or engineering firms
- site supervisors.
With further training they may progress to:
- electrical inspectors
- electrical engineering technicians
- electrical engineers.
Electricians may specialise in:
- low-voltage electrical work on houses, and commercial or industrial buildings
- high-voltage electrical work (over 1000 volts) on power stations, substations and other sites.
Years Of Training
3-4 years of training required.You need to do an apprenticeship and get a qualification to become an electrician.
You need:
- to do an apprenticeship and get a New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4) OR Electrical Trade (Electricity Supply and General Electrical) (Level 4) or similar
- a Trainee Limited Certificate from the Electrical Workers Registration Board.
You also need to be registered with the Electrical Workers Registration Board.
You may need to:
- have a driver's licence
- have access to a car to get to worksites
- pass a drug test.
High-voltage power training
Grid Skills (part of Transpower) trains people to work with high-voltage power, for example, in substations.
This training takes up to two years and can be done by apprentices or qualified electricians.
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