Trade Programs: Construction Electrician

This trade is compulsory. To legally work in this trade in Manitoba, you must be a registered apprentice or have a Certificate of Qualification and hold a Journeyperson Electrician Licence (licensed under "The Electricians' Licence Act").

For more information about this trade, contact the training co-ordinator.

What does a Construction Electrician Do?

A construction electrician plans, assembles, installs, repairs, tests and maintains electrical fixtures and systems that provide heat, light, power or control in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Construction electricians ensure that the electrical apparatus and systems people at home and in business depend on every day are safe and operate properly. Electricians also troubleshoot and repair or reinstall electrical systems when required. They must have the experience to safely remove electrical services and systems as well as assess the suitability of existing services for future use. Many electricians specialize in specific types of installations such as new home construction or in the commercial and industrial sectors in hospitals or factories.

The exact type of work involved may vary, but all electricians are trained to do the following:

• read and interpret building plans, electrical, mechanical and architectural drawings and electrical code specifications to determine wiring installations
• cut, thread, bend, assemble and install conduits and other types of electrical conductor enclosures and fittings
• pull wire through conduits and holes in walls and floors
• lay out, assemble, install, repair, maintain, connect and test electrical fixtures, apparatus control equipment and wiring for fire alarm, communication, light, heat and power systems
• position, install and maintain distribution and control equipment such as circuit breaker panel boards, fuse enclosures, switch boxes, pullboxes and related devices
• splice, join and connect wire to form circuits
• install data cabling and fibre optic systems
• test electrical circuits to ensure integrity and safety

What skills/abilities are required?

You will be expected to do precision work and adhere to industry standards for installation, repairs and safety. You should have a good background in mathematics and science and be able to understand and apply a wide range of technical knowledge.

To be successful in the trade, electricians need:

• good communication skills, especially when working with customers
• good reading skills to interpret drawings and electrical code specifications
• teamwork skills when working on large projects with co-workers
• mechanical ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment
• manual dexterity required to perform precision work
• the ability to distinguish colours in order to work with colour-coded wiring
• problem solving abilities to change installation techniques to on-site working conditions
• a willingness to keep up with new developments in the trade
• strength and the ability to work at heights on construction sites

How long is the apprenticeship program?

The apprenticeship is four years consisting of four levels. Practical and technical training is a minimum of 1800 hours per level. About 80 per cent of the time is spent learning practical on-the-job skills under the supervision of a certified journeyperson and 20 per cent consists of learning the theoretical and technical aspects of the trade through in-school training.

What is taught during in-school technical training?

Apprentices attend periods of school for each required level of training. Subjects include:

• Blueprint Reading
• Industrial and Electrical Codes
• Residential, Commercial and Industrial Wiring and Load Calculations
• Direct Current and Alternating Current Fundamentals, Equipment and Controls
• Three-Phase Systems and Transformers
• Solid State, Static Controls and Programmable Logic Controllers
• Safety

What is the supervision ratio?

As experience comprises the bulk of apprenticeship training, it is essential that each apprentice has on-site access to a skilled journeyperson and receives the attention and guidance necessary to perform the tasks of the trade safely and efficiently.

For every apprentice working in this trade, the employer is required to maintain a 1:1 ratio of apprentices to journeypersons on-site and must ensure that the apprentice is directly supervised by a certified journeyperson in the trade.

What are the entrance requirements?

Senior Years Apprenticeship Option: Begin your apprenticeship training in high school. A minimum age of 16 years in required.

General Admission: A Grade 12 or equivalent high school academic standing is required, including recommended courses in Math. If you are 19 years or older and do not hold a high school diploma, you can also qualify as a Mature Student. Prior Learning Recognition and Assessment may be required.

Trades Qualification: If you are experienced in the trade, but do not hold a Certificate of Qualification, you may become a certified journeyperson based on years of proven industry experience and successful completion of the Red Seal Examination. A Trades Qualification Application and trade specific work experience form must be submitted. Trades professionals whose entrance readiness is less than that required, must take appropriate upgrading.

For additional details on entrance requirements and how to begin your apprenticeship or obtain certification, see section on "How to Start".

Do I get a certificate?

When you successfully complete all your required levels of practical experience and technical training, you write an interprovincial examination. You must score at least 70 per cent or better to qualify for a “Red Seal” endorsed interprovincial certificate confirming your status as a certified journeyperson.

You also qualify for a provincial Journeyman Electrician "H" Licence, issued by Manitoba Labour and Immigration. This licence validates your training to perform electrical work on any building or installation in Manitoba and must be renewed every four years.

Your "Red Seal" endorsed Certificate of Qualification as a journeyperson Construction Electrician is recognized in other parts of Canada. However, if you plan to work in another province, you must apply for that province's Electrical Licence.

What salary can I expect as an apprentice?

Manitoba's Construction Industry Wages Act states that while on the job, an employer must pay an apprentice a percentage of the prevailing wages of a journeyperson which can be no less than:

• 40 per cent during level one
• 50 per cent during level two
• 65 per cent during level three
• 80 per cent during level four

This amount an apprentice is paid cannot be less than the provincial minimum wage plus:

• 10 per cent during level one
• 20 per cent during level two
• 30 per cent during level three
• 40 per cent during level four

On worksites where The Construction Industry Wages Act applies, the journeyperson’s wage rate means the rate required by regulations under that Act.

On worksites where The Construction Industry Wages Act does not apply, the journeyperson’s wage rate means the wage rate of journeypersons employed by the same employer and working at the same worksite as the apprentice.

Employers may also provide other benefits such as group insurance for health, dental and vision care and training benefits. In total, the value of the benefits can range from 20 per cent to 30 per cent over and above the basic hourly pay rate.

Current wage details are available by downloading the training wage schedule

What are the career prospects?

Electricians usually work a 40-hour, 5-day workweek plus any required overtime. Electricians employed by construction and maintenance contractors, manufacturers, resource companies and other large organizations may experience layoffs between projects and when the industry is in a slump.

With experience, construction electricians may advance to positions such as foreman, superintendent, estimator or electrical inspector. Some start their own contracting businesses. With additional training they may transfer their skills to related trades such as Industrial Electrician, Power Electrician, Electric Motor System Technician, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic, Industrial Instrument Mechanic or Industrial Mechanic (Millwright).