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).
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