How to become an Electrician
Official title: Electricians (except industrial and power system)
Also called: Electrician, Wiring electrician, Building electrician, Apprentice electrician, Institution electrician, Construction electrician, Electrician - troubleshooter, Domestic and rural electrician, Building construction electrician, Apprentice construction electrician, Construction electrician apprentice, Construction and maintenance electrician
Electricians (except industrial and power system) lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures. They are employed by electrical contractors and maintenance departments of buildings and other establishments, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Read and interpret drawings, circuit diagrams and electrical code specifications to determine wiring layouts for new or existing installations
- Pull wire through conduits and through holes in walls and floors
- Install brackets and hangers to support electrical equipment
- Install, replace and repair lighting fixtures and electrical control and distribution equipment, such as switches, relays and circuit breaker panels
- Splice, join and connect wire to fixtures and components to form circuits
- Test continuity of circuits using test equipment to ensure compatibility and safety of system, following installation, replacement or repair
- Troubleshoot and isolate faults in electrical and electronic systems and remove and replace faulty components
- Connect electrical power to audio and visual communication equipment, signalling devices and heating and cooling systems
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program is usually required. Trade certification for construction electricians is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Trade certification for electricians (domestic and rural) is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario. Trade certification for electrical control (machine) builders is available, but voluntary, in Ontario. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified construction electricians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program is usually required. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $68,250 a year The middle half earn $49,725 to $83,850.
- About 119,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 154,900 are projected by 2033. (+29.8%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Industrial electricians
- Power system electricians
- Electrical power line and cable workers
- Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
- Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Electrician?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program is usually required. Trade certification for construction electricians is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Trade certification for electricians (domestic and rural) is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario. Trade certification for electrical control (machine) builders is available, but voluntary, in Ontario. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified construction electricians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
How much does an Electrician earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $68,250 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $49,725 to $83,850.
Is an Electrician a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 30% by 2033, from about 119,300 to about 154,900 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an Electrician?
Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03