Page 42 - CCD Magazine - Winter-Spring 2019 Issue

a licensed electrician is essential to the continued growth and advancement of the electrical industry.” For instance, the body of mathematics behind electrical work is impressive. Electricity is measured in volts and is a function of voltage, current, and resistance – all factors with a complex mathematical relationship. There are building codes set in place by state and municipal governments to ensure the safety of houses and commercial buildings, but mathematical laws prove how electricity will function under different circumstances. Math alone requires that continuing education requirements, established by city and state governments, be met to maintain an electrical journeyman’s license. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE LICENSED IN COLORADO? To become a licensed electrician in Colorado, individuals must register as an apprentice and complete 8000 hours of on-the-job training – equivalent to four years of work experience. Along with that, a minimum of 288 hours of classroom instruction is also required in order to sit for the Journey level exam. Beginning with the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) cycle, Colorado electricians are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education (CEUs) every three years to maintain licensure. After the initial passage of the Journey or a Master’s license exam, 24 hours of CEUs every three years is required instead of re-testing every three years. There are 7,500 licensed electricians in Colorado, but more are needed to meet the demands of the current marketplace as well as address worker shortages as a result of retirements in the industry. The U.S. Department of Labor expects that by 2026, there will be 59,600 new electrician jobs in the sector, a growth rate of 9%. In May 2016, the median annual wage for all workers was $52,720 or $23.35 per hour. Finding candidates for these jobs is a challenge and the industry must market consistently about the shortage, the need, the opportunity, the benefits and the training available. WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE ELECTRICAL PROFESSIONALS? Being an electrician is a professional occupation and provides a living wage plus a lifelong learning career opportunity. IECRM raises awareness about the importance of skilled trades to the continued growth and economic health of our community. The organization encourages more young people – men, women, military veterans and underserved populations – to join the industry. Being an electrical apprentice is an earn-while-you-learn opportunity. In most cases apprentices are working full time and their employer pays for training. “Apprenticeships are an attractive and affordable alternative to entry into a career; and electrical contracting apprenticeships lead to secure careers for many. Rapidly rising wages in the skilled trades along with opportunities to advance into roles as project managers, estimators and business owners make this occupation even more attractive.” says Stansbury. An all-too-common scenario is the concern within the electrical trade to field a skilled labor force to meet that market demand. High school graduates have been so effectively encouraged to see pursuit of a bachelor’s degree as the only pathway to economic success that rewarding, high-paid jobs requiring shorter and less expensive training are going unfilled. “Postsecondary education doesn’t only mean a four year degree,” says Stansbury. “A common misperception is that skilled trade jobs are not prestigious or low-paying; that is a huge misconception. Our goal is to ensure that young people and their parents receive a different message while raising awareness of the career opportunities that are behind the device in the electrical industry,” says Stansbury. The U.S. Department of Education reports that individuals with career and technical educations are more likely to be employed than their counterparts with academic credentials, and are significantly more likely to be working in their fields of study. Through its mission, IECRM celebrates and communicates about the programs, training, and career opportunities for job seekers and the benefits of apprenticeships as a point of job entry. “As we continue to change decades- old perceptions, as an industry and community, we also need to demonstrate to young people and career changers how fulfilling and lucrative a career in the electrical industry can be,” says Stansbury. “As innovation, technology evolution, and the digital integration of systems expands, we need young people who are the hands-on makers and strategy gamers of today to know there is a rewarding place for their creativity and problem solving skills as the next generation electrician in the electrical industry.” 42 | Colorado Construction & Design