Overview
Electricians install, construct, alter, repair, maintain, commission, test, service, calibrate, and operate related electrical and electronic systems in any premise, place, building, or structure. They ensure that all electrical connections are safe and meet standards set by the electrical code.
Electricians may be employed by electrical contractors, maintenance departments of large institutions such as hospitals or industrial plants, or they may be self-employed.
Working conditions for construction electricians will vary depending upon the type and stage of the project. Electricians interpret architectural drawings and electrical code specifications at construction sites. Rough wiring is weather-dependent and is completed before walls are in place. The indoor installation of electrical equipment follows later, and much electrical work is performed in a standing position, often in confined spaces. Physical risks involved include falling from a height or receiving an electrical shock.
Electricians who are employed by heavy industry in the industrial sector, such as in pulp mills, mines, and smelting operations, work with large electrical motors and massive power supplies. Some electricians specialize in restorative, insurance, or retrofit work rather than new construction.
The electrician apprenticeship process requires time spent on the job and in-school training. An electrician trainee must complete a four-year program, including 6,000 workplace hours and 1,200 in-school hours of training. After completion of training, a passing grade on the inter-provincial exam will result in the B.C. Certificate of Apprenticeship, B.C. Certificate of Qualification, and the Inter-provincial Standard Endorsement, also known as Red Seal.
Entrance Requirements
Pathways
There are two ways of beginning your new career as an electrical apprentice:
- Take our Electrical Foundation program. By working through a series of practical projects, practical assignments, and theory assignments you'll build a solid foundation of knowledge and skill to make you more employable in an entry-level position. By successfully completing the program, you will also receive credit for the in-school portion of Level 1 of our Electrical Apprenticeship training.
- Find employment under an electrician who will register you with SkilledTradesBC. In this option, you are indentured to a company as an apprentice electrician, learning basic skills while you are employed. The advantage here is that you earn while you learn.
Entrance requirements
You must be an active apprentice registered with SkilledTradesBC to register for apprenticeship training at BCIT.
Recommended for success
High school graduation (within the last 5 years) with:
- Principles of Math 11 or 12, Pre-Calculus 11 or 12, or equivalent
- English 12, Communications 12 or English language proficiency
- Physics 11 or 12
- Demonstrated mechanical aptitude
or
Recent Electrical Foundation Program Graduation (ELTT within the last 5 years) from an ITA approved program.
Industry strongly recommends that apprentices considering attending Level 1 Construction Electrician technical training have at least one year of work-based training as an electrical apprentice before beginning their in-school technical training.
Apprentices should possess good health and the physical condition necessary to meet the demands of the work: good hearing, eyesight and hand/eye coordination. Apprentices with medical or physical difficulties should contact Accessibility Services to arrange an interview with the Institute’s rehabilitation specialist.
International applicants
BCIT welcomes apprentice training requests from Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. View programs that accept international students
Scheduled Intakes
Multiple start dates each year.
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for availability of upcoming intakes.
Register for Apprentice Training
To register for apprentice training:
- Consult the training schedule to find a date that is suitable to both you and your employer.
- Create your BCIT ID if you don’t already have one.
- Register by phone or email.
- Pay the $200 commitment fee.
Disclosure of personal information & privacy notice
BCIT Apprentice Services reserves the right to communicate with SkilledTradesBC and your active employer sponsor about your registration, progress, and related academic information. BCIT also shares apprentice registration information with Work BC. If you have questions about the protection of your personal information, you may contact the BCIT Information Access and Privacy Office.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your apprentice training request, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your training request will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your training request within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on tuition and fees, visit Apprenticeship Training Tuition & Fees.
Books & supplies
Please visit the BCIT Bookstore to view the list of required books and supplies.Financial assistance
Income support for apprentices is provided by Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) through regular Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility. For questions regarding Employment Insurance or Personal Support Payments, please visit the income support overview for current BCIT apprentices.
Courses
Class hours
0730-1430, Monday to Friday
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for class hours and availability of upcoming intakes.
Program matrix
| Level 1 (10 weeks) | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AELX 1GAP | Electrical Apprentice Level 1 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 20.0 | |
| Level 2 (10 weeks) | Credits | ||
| AELX 2GAP | Electrical Apprentice Level 2 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 20.0 | |
| Level 3 (10 weeks) | Credits | ||
| AELX 3GAP | Electrical Apprentice Level 3 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 20.0 | |
| Level 4 (10 weeks) | Credits | ||
| AELX 4GAP | Electrical Apprentice Level 4 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 20.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 80.0 | ||
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program length
The total amount of in-school, technical training for an electrical apprenticeship is 1,200 hours. The four levels of technical training each consist of ten weeks of full-time training.
Grading
The minimum passing grade is 70 percent.Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
DW Poppy Secondary School
23752 - 52 Avenue
Langley, BC
Princess Margaret Senior Secondary School
128th Street and 72nd Avenue
Surrey, BC
Garibaldi Secondary School
24789 Dewdney Trunk Road
Maple Ridge, BC
North Delta Secondary School
11447 82 Avenue
Delta, BC
Graduating & Jobs
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Credential
BCIT offers a Diploma of Trades Training for apprentices who have successfully completed their technical training at BCIT and have been granted a British Columbia Trades Qualification (IP/TQ). In trades where there is no requirement to complete a Trades Qualification (TQ), a Certificate of Apprenticeship is acceptable. Please see the BCIT apprenticeship training section of the website for more information.
Contact Us
For general inquiries, email BCIT_Electrical@bcit.ca
BCIT Apprentice Services
For more information on this or other apprenticeship programs, tuition fees and when programs are offered, please contact BCIT Apprentice Services at:
Office Location: Building SW1, First Floor
Burnaby campusPhone: 604-456-8100
1-800-667-0676 (BC)Fax: 604-435-1197 On the web: bcit.ca/apprenticeship
BCIT Apprentice Services can assist apprentices with their registration, tuition fee payments, and other details.
Anyone interested in registering as an apprentice can contact SkilledTradesBC at 778-328-8700 or 1-866-660-6011 (BC). BCIT's Apprentice Services can also assist individuals interested in entering apprentice training.
Questions or comments?
Subscribe
Sign up to receive updates, invitations to events, and information about BCIT and your program.
We promise not to spam you, we won’t share your personal information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.