For those people thinking of becoming an electrician, there are a variety of schools, institutes and training centers where you can get a good education and launch your career the right way.

There are government-sponsored programs, military training programs, and online courses that lead to certification, electrical contractor sponsored training centers and other electrician schools where you can be taught the complexities of installing and maintaining everything electric. As is always the case, the first thing you have to do is to decide what direction you wish to go in after the training is over, you’ve gotten your certification and you want to earn some money.

For some, starting their own business is the first bold step they take after school. They learn the skills necessary to do home repairs or commercial maintenance, buy some equipment, open up a small shop or operate out of their houses, do a bit of advertising and slowly but surely the phone calls start coming and the work begins.

For these entrepreneurially minded people, it is not necessary to take the more advanced courses to perform specific, highly-focused electrical work. For these people a broad knowledge of the ins and outs of electricity and houses is all they need to know, combined with some business courses that teach about starting your own business, basic bookkeeping procedures and the like. Still others want to learn everything that they can while in school and somewhere during the instruction they discover a passion for a specific area of expertise and they start moving in that direction.

Upon graduation from certain electrician schools, you can work immediately in positions such as panel builders and testers, utility maintenance mechanics, construction electricians, and electronic technicians. Studies include the basic wiring and electrical layout schematics used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Successful graduates will have been schooled in electrical system service and maintenance and trained in motors, electrical controls and transformer applications.

All of the knowledge and skills needed for entry level positions as electricians and apprentices for new construction, additions and restorations can be quickly learned and immediately put into practice if the student is dedicated.