Career Guidance for Electrical Engineering

What Does an Electrician Do?

Electricians work in a variety of settings, including commercial, industrial, and residential environments. Their primary role involves installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical systems that provide power, lighting, heat, signals, control systems, and fire alarms for buildings and other structures.

Electrician Duties and Responsibilities:

Installing electrical distribution and control equipment such as switches, relays, circuit breaker panels, and fuse enclosures.
Interpreting electrical, mechanical, and architectural blueprints, along with electrical code specifications, to determine wiring layouts.
Cutting, threading, bending, assembling, and installing conduits and enclosures for electrical conductors.
Running wires through conduits or wall and floor openings.
Installing data cabling and fiber optic systems.
Testing electrical circuits to ensure they are safe and functioning correctly.
Skills and Abilities Needed to Become an Electrician:

Strong communication and reading skills.

Aptitude for mathematics.
Mechanical ability, strength, and manual dexterity.
Ability to distinguish between different colors for working with color-coded wiring.
Comfortable working at heights.
Willingness to stay updated with new industry developments.
Creative problem-solving skills.
Precision and expertise in performing tasks.
Flexibility to work on a variety of different and exciting projects.

Working Conditions for Electricians:

Electricians generally work 40 to 45 hours per week, often with opportunities for overtime. In the construction industry, job security may vary depending on the project. Working conditions range from clean indoor environments to outdoor scaffolding or cramped spaces like ceilings. Electricians also have the opportunity to start their own businesses.

Minimum Entry Requirements to Study Electrical Engineering at a TVET College:

NC(V) Programme: A Grade 9 Certificate along with specific college requirements for the course.
NATED Programme:
N1 Admission: Grade 9 Certificate.
N4 Admission: Grade 12 with a pass in Mathematics or an NC(V) Level 4 Certificate in Electrical Infrastructure Construction.

How to Become an Electrician:

Contact TVET Colleges to inquire about entrance requirements for the Electrical Engineering course.
Visit Electrical Engineering training centers and companies to gain more insight into the field.
Reach out to DHET Career Development Services for free career advice and information at 086 999 0123 or via email at careerhelp@dhet.gov.za.
Take an aptitude test to determine if becoming an Electrician is right for you.
Attend Career Exhibitions in your area to connect with higher education institutions and gather application forms.

Did You Know? Electrical Engineering Offers Different Specializations:

Electrical Engineering students can choose to specialize in one of three areas:

Heavy Current: Focuses on the supply, distribution, transformation, and use of high-voltage electrical power (e.g., working with substations).
Light Current: Involves low-power electrical systems, such as electronic circuits and low-voltage currents.
Instrumentation: Involves designing instruments for process control, including measuring pressure, flow, and temperature. This field requires a solid understanding of physics, especially beyond electromagnetic theory.