• Installation: Electricians involved in installation work with construction companies to install the wiring and electrical equipment involved in a building project. They must be able to read blueprints and assess the tools needed for the job.
• Maintenance: These electricians focus on repairing or upgrading electrical equipment in residential or commercial settings. They may do work as simple as repairing a blown fuse, or work as complicated as repairing industrial motors or appliances.

• Electrician Apprenticeships: 144 hours of classroom training and 2,000 hours of hands-on work
• Bachelor's Degrees: 4 years to complete

Most electricians learn their trade through apprenticeship programs. These programs are commonly sponsored by electrical unions, and allow future electricians to gain classroom instruction as well as practical hands-on experience. Apprenticeships typically take four years to complete, and require 144 hours of in-class training, along with 2,000 hours of field experience. Some individuals choose to attend electrician classes at community colleges or vocational schools, before they begin their hands-on work. These classes discuss reading blueprints, safety procedures, and the electrical engineering theory needed to do electrical installation. During the practical aspect of their training, apprentices learn to master all of an electrician's tasks. They usually begin by doing simple mechanical work, such as drilling holes, and work up to more skilled tasks, such as installing wiring and switches.

Electricians must continue their training throughout their career, to stay up to date on new technological requirements and electrical systems. Many state licensing programs require electricians to take tests on changes to the National Electrical Code and to complete safety programs in order to maintain their license. (BLS)

All states require some sort of licensure for electricians, although the details for attaining this license vary from state to state. Usually, the requirement is a passing score on the state's exam, which tests the student's mastery of electrical theory and building codes. Electricians who offer their services directly to the public must usually have a master electrician license. The general requirement for this certification is seven years of electrical experience, or a relevant bachelor's degree. Electricians with sufficient skills and business savvy may desire to begin their own electrical contracting business. This requires a special license and additional professional experience. (BLS)

Electrician students will learn to work with all different kinds of electrical systems. Usually, the beginning of a course of study will feature a class in wiring. Understanding various wiring systems and necessities is essential to succeeding in all other electrician courses. A course in voltage will teach students to read and understand voltage limits and requirements in electronic items. Voltage understanding is particularly important to repairmen and women, as working with high voltages is extremely dangerous. Some electrician programs will include a course specific to the particulars of sound systems. Sound system repair is common for working electricians, and questions related to this kind of work are also included on most states' licensure exams. 

Though perhaps appearing unnecessary at the surface, a course in the history of electronics can be valuable to students if it addresses the needs of older buildings who have outdated electrical systems. Having the ability to repair and replace electrical systems in vintage buildings can help candidates stand out significantly on the job market, due to the current electrical needs of the moment. One of the most important classes that an electrician student will take is in electrical safety. Safety standards and conduct are not only critical to the everyday life of an electrician, they are also a major component of electrician licensure exams. 

Though it can be beneficial to complete an electrician degree in a traditional classroom setting, most online schools who offer the degree do not mandate any on-site training. 

A degree in information technology can prepare people to work as repairmen or women for computer equipment. Computers are integral in nearly every office, building, and home, and as problems and malfunctions are inevitable, it is essential to have well-trained repair professionals available, just as it is essential to have qualified electricians to fix malfunctioning electrical systems.

HVAC degrees are specifically designed to train students for installation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. These students occasionally take classes with electrician majors, as working with circuitry safely is of the utmost importance to HVAC specialists. Technology repairmen and women are similar to HVAC professionals and electricians in that they are asked to repair mechanical and electrical systems of malfunctioning machines, as well as to install and maintain them. Technology repair associate degrees are broader versions of electrician degrees, as they include training in the repair of all machines -- everything from laptop computers to copy machines. 

A communications technology degree requires some knowledge of electrical systems. Communications technicians can work with visual modes of communication -- mainly televisions, theater systems, and sound systems. Those who graduate with communications technology degrees will often compete with electrician graduates for jobs. An electrical engineering degree is the most advanced type of electrician degree; electrical engineers help develop electrical systems and devices, and significant training in math, computer science, and general engineering is necessary to work in these high-paying careers.