The Education and Roles of an Electrical Contractor

Becoming an electrical contractor takes years of experience alongside an experienced electrician as well as some education. As a professional, the electrician fulfills many responsibilities. He installs new systems, maintains and repairs individual problems, and occasionally replaces wires and appliances when they malfunction.

Educational Requirements for the Qualified Electrician

An electrical contractor doesn't require a college education, but it does require the completion on a high school diploma along with some education from a technical school or community college. You'll also need to spend a good amount of training time with an experienced electrician.

Apprenticeship Requirements for the Qualified Electrician

The majority of an electrician's training is obtained on the field with an experienced and qualified electrician who has already been successful in his own business. Aspiring electricians can join apprenticeships through local electricians' unions or brotherhood, or they can contact an independent electrician about a possible internship. The Bureau of Labor Statistics averages that the average electrical contractor obtains about 2,000 hours of practical on-site training along with 144 hours of classroom study.

Licensing Requirements for the Qualified Electrician

Once education and apprenticeship requirements have been completed, the student can work on becoming a licensed professional. The electrician will begin gaining even more experience as he begins to work in both industrial and commercial settings. Before he can obtain a license, he must also have liability insurance that covers a certain amount mandated by the state in which he plans to work.

Possible Business Education

If the electrical contractor wishes to begin his own business in the industry, he will probably want to gain some business education. Courses or a degree in business management will be helpful. He may also choose to take some construction management courses which will enable him to become an overseeing contractor for some jobs.

The Responsibilities of an Electrical Contractor

An electrician is a necessary part of any construction crew. Whether a new home is being built or a skyscraper office building, electrical wires, outlets, lighting and other appliances will need to be installed. During the building phase, the electrician is the one to install the wiring, lighting and outlets based on the blueprint he is provided. He'll also label the breaker box so the building owner knows part of the building each breaker affects. Once everything is installed, he'll test the wiring to be sure it's all working smoothly and safely.

The electrician will also be on call for any problems that may develop in the electrical systems in a house or place of business. There are many possible problems that can occur. The electrician will communicate with the homeowner or business manager to figure out what's going on, then diagnose and solve the problem as soon as possible.

Occasionally, a house will be remodeled or repaired after fire or water damage and an electrician will be needed to do some rewiring throughout the house. During remodeling projects, extra outlets may be added or new lighting fixtures. Whether new work needs to be done, old work needs to be redone, or current work needs to be repaired, the electrician plays an important role.

Balancing Your Education and Busy Lifestyle

Distance Learning is a priority for most who have already set their lives out in one way or another in that their responsibilities have been laid out, and in quite a few cases, would not allow for regular College schedules. This is taken into consideration when looking for a place to study, and this shouldn't mean below par education. It should mean convenience for those interested in education and furthering their portfolios.

Student Commitment

Distance Learning requires a certain amount of commitment as the student must schedule the time to study. This is also reflective in their work as they are not going to afford the time unless genuinely interested in the subject matter. The work from these students shows a clear interest in their progression, and therefore their time is not wasted on courses that they are only taking for UKAS points.

Flexibility

A high standard is reached as there is very little disruption in the pupil's life, and therefore they find that they are able to concentrate on the subject matter fully. These courses are not as expensive as those that have to hire out a classroom, and with the 'email' style of assessment, the cost to complete their course assignments is inconsequential. There is no waiting for weeks for their assessments to be returned to them, and this makes it easier for the student to get on with their work at their own pace. These courses fit into lifestyles as it is usually humanly impossible to gauge when a situation will arise that takes a student away from their studies, but with the Distance Learning option, these students do not have the worry of catching up, or even having to loose out on their whole course and fee because there has been a glitch in their schedule. The course can be put aside, and picked up when the situation is eradicated. For those who travel for work, their course can be taken with them, affording them the time to continue on with their studies.

Different options for different lifestyles

This form of education is taking a front seat for those interested in continuing study after settling into a career, or starting a family. There are numerous reasons for not being able to put your life on hold to study a preferred topic, and this option is sometimes the only way people are able to get the training they need. This should not mean that these people have to put up with inferior courses, or exorbitant fees. For those who are unable to leave their homes, or not able to physically enrol on classroom taught courses, this form of education plays a paramount importance in their lives. Oxford College ODL and Oxford Distance Learning have devised a scheme for the visually impaired by designing their courses specifically for these people's needs, and they are in the process of setting up a program to fit into those people's lives that have difficulty in finding a course that caters for their special needs.

Grading

Distance learning courses are not easy. Because the student is not required to attend classes, it is imperative that a sound assessment of their absorption of the materials is obtained by the tutor, and this is only obtained through assignments that are usually more in depth than the usual grading process that is awarded through classroom taught courses. This takes it's form by enabling the student into not just learning about a given subject, but also showing their understanding of each individual step in essay form which lends to their overall grade. This is particularly important to the student, as the material is not the only information that needs to be taught in a given subject. The student needs to be able to question the material, and use their own reasoning when it comes to analysing what they are asked to absorb which keeps them interested in the course work and sees that they feel more involved with the process of their learning.