Applied & Technical Studies
Applied & Technical Studies
Construction electricians are on every job site, wiring the lights, heating, air-conditioning, and communications devices people rely on every day. They install, test, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
They have a diverse and changing work environment and can easily move from outdoor work sites to indoor locations, including residential and commercial construction or building maintenance.
Electricians can specialize in cutting-edge areas such as fibre optics, climate control systems, communication equipment, computer-controlled systems for high-tech buildings, or renewable energy systems.
UFV's 24-week Construction Electrician certificate program equips you with the foundational skills to enter the profession. After you cover essential math and physics, equipment testing, electrical code and blueprint reading, you get hands-on practice in the lab and receive coaching from seasoned instructors.
You master the skills necessary to handle commercial-type wiring, polyphase systems, power distribution systems, industrial electronics, and rotation electrical equipment. And once you enter the workforce as an apprentice, you can complete your apprenticeship training with us to earn your Professional Red Seal certification as a construction electrician.
In the coming decade, electricians will benefit from an increase in capital spending on infrastructure and engineering projects, mainly in the energy and mining sectors, which will bolster growth in construction. The Conference Board of Canada estimates that the electricity sector alone will invest nearly $300 billion to fix up Canada’s aging electricity generation and distribution system, creating untold job openings.
Technological advances and rising global demand for energy will also open new job opportunities in renewable energy, such as solar power, wind power, and fuel cells; wiring for smart homes or for automated systems powering high-tech industries and offices; and fibre optics and local area networks. Electricians who specialize in these new fields will be most in demand.
Experienced construction electricians can expect to advance to supervisory positions as foremen, superintendents, estimators or electrical inspectors. Some may choose to start their own contracting businesses.