Electrician
Ready to spark your career into life? Electricians power our homes, buildings and streets by installing and fixing electrical systems.
About the job
Career insights – Electrician
What it's like
As an electrician, you'll power up our world! Your work will make sure homes and businesses receive energy safely and efficiently.
Electricians troubleshoot and repair electrical systems to keep everything running smoothly. You'll make sure that buildings have reliable power by installing new systems and setting up essential infrastructure.
Your work will take you to exciting places, such as towering skyscrapers and huge engineering projects. Some electrician jobs will see you working in the streets to make sure streetlights shine brightly.
You could also play a vital role in the future of energy by working with cutting-edge renewable technology. Wouldn't it be cool to help power the next generation of wind turbines or install smart heating systems that save energy? Or maybe you'll love setting up photovoltaic panels that turn sunlight into electricity.
Your tasks might include:Â
fitting and repairing electrical circuits and wiringÂ
following technical drawings, building plans and wiring diagramsÂ
using tools like multimeters to check wiring, circuits and systems for safety and compliance with regulations.
finding and fixing faults in systems
interpreting blueprints and electrical schematics to understand layout and circuit design. Â
installing and maintaining electrical equipment, instruments and machinery such as solar panelsÂ
Electricians can specialise in a certain area, or work across a range of general tasks. For example, you could specialise in fire protection, security and data-network systems. You could also install electrical systems in new buildings, work in maintenance or focus on renewable energy installation.
Green jobÂ
In this job, you may do work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) – learn about the pre-employment assessment
Construction Skills Certification Scheme – find details about CSCS cards
Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) – get all the information you need about SJIB cards
Electrotechnical certification scheme (ECS) – learn about the ECS card, which you may need
Scottish Renewables – discover renewable energy careers in Scotland
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Energy Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- time management
- taking initiative
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- problem solving
- working with technology
- verbal communication
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Design and Manufacture
Engineering Science
Physics
Practical Craft Skills
Practical Electronics
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
Maths (Mathematics)
Most electricians in Scotland start their career through an apprenticeship. Although, there are several routes you can take to get into this area of work.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You'll get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Installation
Use the My World of Work course search to find HNCs or HNDs.
Trainee roles
You can become an electrician by applying for a paid trainee role, where you learn on the job without needing previous experience. Use the My World of Work job search to look for trainee roles.
The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) offers an adult training scheme. You can also find training through the Energy Technical Academy Group (ETAG).
Work
Have you got experience and qualifications in a related career, like building services or electrical engineering? If so, you may be able to apply directly for a job as an electrician.
University
A degree can be helpful for getting into this job. You could study subjects, such as:
Electrical Engineering
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
To work on a construction site, you may need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
To do construction site-based electrical roles, you could need an Electrical Contractor's Scheme card (ESC).
You may need a full UK driving licence to help you travel between sites.
Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become an electrician. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
To work with electrical wiring, you'll need to pass a colour vision assessment to prove you have normal colour vision.
A Scottish Joint Industry Board card (SJIB card) is essential to train and work in this field.
All electricians must pass the SECTT pre-employment assessment of technical and numeracy skills, or equivalent.
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