The Benefits of Hiring a Company with a Master Electrician
When you’re looking to hire an electrical company for residential work, there are several benefits to hiring a company with a master electrician on their team. Master electricians are highly skilled in their profession; with their advanced knowledge and training, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing that your electrical job will be completed to a high standard and in line with current safety and electrical codes.
The Difference Between a Journeyman Electrician and a Master Electrician
When it comes to understanding the difference between a a journeyman electrician and a master electrician, it all comes down to the training.
Advanced Training
While a journeyman electrician possesses the basic qualifications and skills to work as an electrician, a master electrician demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills.
Pulling Permits
Unlike journeyman electricians, only master electricians can pull permits for large projects in Alberta. While, as a homeowner, you can pull your own permits, it’s much easier and more convenient to have a master electrician pull a permit for you. The fact that we pull your electrical permits for you adds an extra layer of protection for homeowners because it means that we are 100% responsible for the work we do in your home.
Compliance with the Alberta Electrical Code
Master electricians have thorough training to do high-level installations according to the Alberta electrical code, so having a master electrician on the team is essential as it assures the quality of the work being done.
Oversee Certified Electricians
A master electrician is also a mentor and a teacher who oversees the work of the journeyman electrician. While working under a master electrician, a journeyman will significantly improve their abilities and develop new skills to competently work towards becoming a master electrician themselves.
The Steps to Become a Master Electrician
To understand the level of training a master electrician has, let’s take a look at the type of education and training they go through to reach this position.
Apprenticeship Program
An apprenticeship for an electrician lasts four years and must include a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of classroom instruction every year for the first three years. In the final year, apprentices are expected to complete a minimum of 1440 hours of on-the-job training and twelve weeks of classroom instruction. They can also take the interprovincial exam in the final period of their apprenticeship and get their Red Seal qualification, which is valid in all provinces across Canada except Quebec.
Qualifications for a Journeyperson Certificate
To receive a journeyperson certification, the apprentice electrician must have a minimum of 72 months and 9180 hours of work experience and successfully pass a theory exam.
Master Electrician Certification
Master electricians in St.Albert need at least three years of experience as a journeyperson electrician (within the last five years) and must complete and pass an examination with the Safety Codes Council to get their certification.
Master electricians in Alberta are also required to renew their certification every year and must complete any electrical code update training to successfully renew their certificate. Journeyman electricians, however, don’t need to be current with any electrical code updates; by hiring a master electrician, homeowners gain peace of mind knowing that any work completed within their homes aligns with the most current provincial electrical and safety standards.
Connect with an Alberta Master Electrician
At MMi Electrical, our team of journeymen and master electricians has extensive experience working on residential projects in St.Albert and surrounding areas. If you’d like to connect with a master electrician for your next electrical project or you’re interested in joining a team of highly motivated experts in electrical work, reach out to us.