Becoming an electrician in Australia offers job security for the rest of your working years. The skill is valuable for a wide variety of applications and career opportunities. Electrician jobs are available with companies providing services in private homes. Establishing yourself as self-employed or a sole proprietor is also easy do as a certified, trained electrician. Corporate electricians doing jobs for large companies, events centers and business chains are both lucrative and needed in Australia today.
How do I train to be an electrician in Australia? What career opportunities should I expect once I receive my training? Becoming an electrician in Australia has many requirements and regulations to meet and understand respectively. Read ahead for important information on training to be an electrician in Australia in 2021.
Electricians in Australia, Requirements
Becoming an electrician in Australia requires training in Electrotechnology. The entire process from training to employment is similar to the process for electricians in the U.S., albeit with varied applicable regulations and requirements. An apprenticeship, also referred to as a traineeship, is required. The majority of companies hiring electricians in Australia require applicants to have years 10 through 12 of secondary education completed.
Specific secondary education requirements differ between employers and in different sectors across Australia, however. Entry requirement for Australian secondary education programs also vary between schools, states and territories. Similar to other countries your prior academic history, extracurricular activities and other factors are all taken into consideration pre-acceptance.
After your apprenticeship/traineeship is completed, you are required to apply for a specific electrician’s license. Each state and/or territory has its own licensing and registration requirements. Each state and/or territory further has its own licensing department or authority. It is therefore necessary to consult with the appropriate licensing organization in your area to understand all steps and requirements related to starting your Electrotechnology career.
Steps to Pursue
A Certificate II in Electrotechnology course is helpful if you are not fully certain the career of an electrician is right for you. Certificate II courses were created to help Australians undertake routine type of work as means to obtain a higher education. Obtaining a Certificate II provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the Australian workforce. An electrical apprenticeship/traineeship commonly lasts for four years and might require obtaining a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician. Finding an apprenticeship is possible through online resources such as:
- Australian Apprenticeships (government site).
- Seek (job search site).
- Melbourne East Group Training (MEGT).
After completing your apprenticeship you are required to apply for an electricians license. It is important to note this process is different depending on where you live. For example, obtaining an electricians license in Victoria involves different steps than obtaining one in Queensland or Western Australia.
After obtaining your license, you need to gain real-life on-the-job experience. Australian electricians can find work in nearly every sector and options are plentiful. It is therefore crucial to choose an area of specialization to set yourself apart in a particular Electrotechnology field.
Types of Electrician Jobs
Electrician jobs are available with companies offering services in private homes. Becoming a self-employed electrician or sole proprietor running a small business is also common for licensed electricians to accomplish. Corporate electricians working for established companies, business chains and even events centers earn lucrative salaries.
As an electronics and communications technician you might work with large series of wires used for energy purposes. You also might work with varied equipment including audiovisual, medical and broadcasting gear. An electrical motor winding tradesperson handles repairs and installations for various appliances and machinery. Electricians are also needed in the Australian Army where they can gain army-specific specialization experience.
Electricians in Australia, Job Security
One major benefit to becoming an electrician in Australia pertains to long-term job security. Job openings in Electrotechnology through 2019 increased significantly over a prior consecutive five-year period. The job growth rate for electricians in Australia is expected to continue to rise for the foreseeable future as well.
Salaries for licensed Australian electricians are higher on average then for other career paths in the nation. Average full time earnings for electricians are $200 AUD higher/week than for other full time jobs. Electrician salaries are also $324 AUD higher/week than all other general earnings on average as well. What is the average salary for an electrician in Australia? A full time electrician in Australia earns approximately $1,400 AUD per week. A part time electrician in Australia earns approximately $1,324 AUD per week. The median annual salary for an electrician in Australia ranges between approximately $61,000 and $91,000+ AUD, with the highest of those salaries earned by electricians possessing 5-20 years experience.
Costs
Costs to become an electrician in Australia vary based on several important factors. The National Careers Institute (an Australian government organization) lists the average course fee to complete a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician as $17,435 AUD. Some required secondary education through government (public) schools is free across the nation. Catholic and independent schools most commonly charge tuition, however. The tuition for attending a private Australian secondary school ranges from $23,000 and $40,000 AUD per school year.
Migrating to Australia as an Electrician
It is possible to migrate to Australia from other countries to work as an electrician. The process is involved and potentially expensive, but worth it in the end once your goal is achieved. Because electricians are in such high demand in Australia, migrating from the U.S. or UK was common prior to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19-based limitations might be restricting entry in to Australia from other countries at the time of this writing. Consult with all applicable agencies to get up-to-date information.
When migration to Australia for Electrotechnology work is permitted, a Skilled Visa is required. Training pursuant to Australian regulations and requirements is also required. Applicable secondary school tuition for international students ranges from $9,000 to $30,000+ AUD.