How to become an electrician in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a construction electrician in British Columbia takes about four years and is mostly paid work. In Grade 11 you need a math course such as Foundations of Mathematics 11 or Workplace Mathematics 11, plus English 12 to graduate. After high school there are two ways in. You can take an Electrical Foundation program at a public college, or you can be hired by an electrical contractor who registers you as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC.

The apprenticeship is 6,000 hours of work under certified electricians plus four levels of technical training, about 40 weeks of school spread over the four years. After the last level and the hours are logged, you write the Interprovincial Red Seal exam. A pass of 70 percent gives you a Certificate of Qualification with Red Seal endorsement, which is recognized across Canada.

Getting in

Schools in our directory that teach electrical training include the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Camosun College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Okanagan College, Thompson Rivers University and Vancouver Island University. Foundation programs usually ask for Grade 12 graduation with English 12 and a Grade 11 math. Each school's page is linked from this page.

If you go straight to an employer, the employer must sign an apprenticeship agreement with SkilledTradesBC. Employers prefer people who already hold basic safety tickets, a driver's licence, or a Foundation certificate.

What it costs and what it pays

In our directory, tuition for the electrical programs we list is Not published. During the 6,000 hours you are a paid employee, and pay rises as you finish each level.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for electricians, except industrial and power system. The median wage is $34.00 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $20.00 per hour and experienced electricians earn around $47.49 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $68,666.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Taking the wrong Grade 11 math. A modified or non-academic math can block entry to a Foundation program until you upgrade. (Source: SkilledTradesBC)
• Missing Youth Train in Trades. High school students can start Level 1 technical training while still in Grade 11 or 12 and earn credit toward both graduation and the apprenticeship. (Source: SkilledTradesBC)
• Working hours that do not count. Hours only count when a registered apprenticeship agreement is on file with SkilledTradesBC. Get the paperwork done before you start. (Source: SkilledTradesBC)
• Using the Red Seal. With the Red Seal endorsement you can work as an electrician in any province or territory without another exam. (Source: Red Seal Program)
• Confusing a trade certificate with a contractor's permit. Pulling electrical permits needs a Field Safety Representative certificate from Technical Safety BC, which is a separate step after you are certified. (Source: Technical Safety BC)