How To Become An Electrician
In The UK

Electricians are skilled tradespeople who work with electrical systems and equipment. Their duties include installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems in a wide range of settings, including homes, businesses, and industrial facilities.

As a domestic electrician, you can expect to do all manner of jobs to provide energy and light to homes. From installing wiring, lighting and appliances to repairing fuse boxes and charging points, the day-to-day of a domestic sparky varies greatly.

Specialising in commercial, your scope of work increases. Obviously, your responsibilities will depend on the role you take on, but you could work anywhere from in shopping centres to restaurants, taking on work similar to that of a domestic electrical engineer but on a larger scale.

As a domestic electrician, you’ll work in residential settings and carry out a range of domestic installations, maintenance and inspection. On a typical day, you could do anything from installing new wiring and lighting to repairing and replacing a fuse box.

To become a domestic electrician, you must first obtain an industry-recognised qualification. This is achievable through either an apprenticeship or a domestic electrical installer course at an approved training centre. After receiving the necessary qualifications, you will be eligible to apply for your ECS Gold Card and begin working.

(Related) NVQ Level 3 Training Course

Yes, a commercial electrician can do domestic work. While there are some differences between commercial and domestic electrical work, many of the skills and knowledge required are similar.

With this in mind, there are some differences between commercial and domestic electrical work that you need to be aware of. Generally, commercial electrical work typically involves higher voltage systems and larger, more complex buildings, while domestic electrical work usually involves lower voltage systems and smaller, simpler buildings.

Becoming an electrician requires a significant amount of time, effort, and dedication. However, for those who are passionate about electrical work and willing to put in the work, it can be a fulfilling and lucrative career path, offering a good salary and excellent job stability.

Being an approved electrician means that you have demonstrated a certain level of knowledge, skill, and competency in electrical installation and maintenance work. It also means that you have met certain requirements for safety and compliance with electrical regulations.

You will be expected to design, install and verify electrical installations in domestic and commercial settings.

In order to become approved, you will not only have earned the required qualifications but also sufficient work. Usually, to earn approved electrician status, you will have worked in a team leader role for a significant time.

An industrial electrician is a skilled tradesperson who installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in industrial settings, such as factories, power plants, and manufacturing facilities. They are responsible for ensuring that electrical equipment and systems are operating safely, efficiently, and reliably.

Yes, becoming an electrician can be a great career choice for those who enjoy hands-on work, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of seeing their work make a difference in the world. Sparkys also benefit from job stability and a good salary, making it a very desirable job.

In your day-to-day, you’ll ensure homes and commercial properties have power, heat and light, making the day-to-day lives of the nation more comfortable. As well as this, the flexibility of the career offers the chance to travel regularly and meet new people.

You’ll need to be qualified to NVQ Level 3 standard or equivalent to become a registered electrician and claim your ECS Gold Card. This is to prove that you can safely and competently work with electrics in a domestic and commercial setting. 

[Related] How To Apply For An ECS Gold Card