Requirements

Electrician or electrical fitter - requirements

As an electrician or electrical fitter, you’ll fit, service and repair electrical equipment, circuits and wiring. You’ll use your technical knowledge in combination with problem-solving skills to succeed in this role. Keep reading to learn more about becoming an electrician or electrical fitter.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be an electrician or electrical fitter?

You’ll need to complete an apprenticeship to become an electrician or electrical fitter. Should you wish to progress to a more senior role, like electrical engineer or project manager, you’ll likely need an undergraduate degree. Subject areas you should consider include:

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Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be an electrician or electrical fitter?

You won’t need a postgraduate qualification for electrician or electrical fitter jobs, but having one may be useful if you decide to progress to an electrical engineer role and more senior positions.

Examples of taught MScs and research degrees at postgraduate level include MScs in:

Electrical engineering
Engineering management
Data communications

What skills do you need to be an electrician or electrical fitter?

You need to be able to use your own initiative and solve electrical issues without supervision. You also need to be a good communicator, speaking to customers on a daily basis about their electrical issues.

Hard skills usually include:

Knowledge of electrical systems
Electrical wiring
Machinery
Health and safety

Soft skills include:

Listening
Communication
Problem-solving
Self-motivated
Detail-oriented

Do you need work experience to be an electrician or electrical fitter?

You often don’t need work experience to become an electrician or electrical fitter, as apprenticeships can be done straight after school or college. If you want to apply for electrical engineer roles, however, work experience can be important. Relevant uni courses often include a work placement to provide experience.