Steps to Become a Qualified Female Electrician

Helping hopeful female electricians achieve their career goals 

If you are good with your hands and love problem-solving, you will make a good electrician. Of course, there is a lot more to the job. Patience, communication skills, and a thirst for learning are also high on the list. 

But what does it take to become an electrician? Like lots of skills-based career choices, the path towards being an electrician has many routes. Apprenticeships, vocational courses, and certificates can be confusing at the best of times, so we’ve outlined all the options. 

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How Many Female Electricians Are There?

So, what percentage of electricians are female?

There is a lot of debate about the actual number of female electricians in the UK. Some sources say that there are 8,000, and others claim that there are 2,180. The percentage sits somewhere between 1% and 3%.

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How Much Do Female Electricians Make? 

Electricians tend to earn an average of over £30k per annum. 

UK Talent claims that electricians make an average of £17.16 per hour, which works out to £33,469 per year. Entry-level electrician roles start at £29,999 a year, and more experienced electricians can earn up to £41,000 per year. These figures are based on data from 10,000 salaries. 

Indeed claims that the average contractor salary is £25,504, but this figure is only based on eight salaries. It also doesn’t account for the electricians in London who charge high hourly rates. Remember, electrical work is highly skilled, and self-employed electricians can set their own hourly rates. In London, electricians charge anything from £300 to £700 a day.

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Benefits of Becoming a Qualified Electrician

• Job security - Electricians are always in demand. Even during the pandemic, homeowners still called on electricians to check their wiring and install white goods. 
• Well-paying - With the current skills shortage, being a female electrician has never been more lucrative! Contractors can raise their rates and still expect to have a packed schedule. 
• Little debt - Unlike a lot of other highly-skilled people, electricians don’t need to go to university. They can start working without the burden of thousands of pounds worth of debt. 
• Hands-on work - Electrical work is suited to people who prefer hands-on jobs. If you love fiddling with components and bits of tech, this career choice is perfect. 
• Flexible hours - Self-employed contractors have the power to choose their own hours. This leaves more time for hobbies, family, and friends. 
• Always on the move - Some people aren’t made to sit at desks all day. If this sounds like you, you’ll be happy to learn that electricians have lots of time to stretch their legs while they move between jobs.
• Future proof work - Electricians will head the UK’s transition towards a net-zero future. A vast amount of electrical expertise is necessary to install EV chargers and build solar farms. Even better, this kind of work is unlikely to be replaced by AI or robotic automation. 

Steps to Become an Electrician 

Electrical work requires in-depth knowledge of circuitry and safety procedures. You don’t have to go to university to reach your dream career, but you do have to gain a few important qualifications.  

There are a few types of engineering roles, including civil engineering, aeronautical engineer, and chemical engineering. In this article, we’re focusing on domestic engineers. 

Here are a few of the paths that you can take to become a qualified female electrician. 

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Attain GCSEs

Some higher education institutions and certification programmes require students to have GCSEs. They are usually looking for passes in maths because electrical work requires some basic algebra. 

Don’t feel dissuaded if you don’t have any GCSEs; lots of female electricians take different avenues and still enjoy successful careers. 

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Find Electrician Apprenticeships 

One of the most common routes to learning a trade is apprenticeships. In recent years, apprenticeships have gained a bad reputation for being unpredictable and poorly paid. Whilst low pay is a reality of many apprenticeships (the current minimum wage is just £4.81), some reputable companies offer effective courses that can teach you real, actionable skills. 

To become a qualified electrician, you need to complete a few standard qualifications. In general, most engineers have these diplomas. 

• Level 2 Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering (Electrical) 
• Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation
• Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation

Lots of apprenticeships target these certificates. 

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Apply for a Vocational Course

Vocational courses are designed to give you hands-on experience in technical trades. Trade schools, apprenticeships, and individual programmes can all offer this kind of experience. 

We recommend vocational courses for people who learn by doing. If you think you’re this kind of learner, it might be more beneficial for you to look into vocational education. 

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Retrain Later in Life

Making the leap from one career to another can be daunting, especially if the marketing materials for your chosen career focus on young people. Believe it or not, lots of experienced female electricians retrained later in life. 

To switch careers, you can apply for a vocational course, undertake an apprenticeship, or even shadow a local electrician while you work on a diploma at night. 

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How to Become a Female Electrician in London 

We can’t speak for the rest of the UK, but London is a great location for prospective electricians who want to learn the ropes. 

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Female Electrician Apprenticeships

Tradeskills4u offers a C&G 5357 Full Electrical Apprenticeship that covers everything you need to know to become a domestic and commercial electrician. This includes lighting design and installation, electrical science, and part-building regulations. There is a training centre in London Gatwick that accepts students from London, Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. 

The course is fully funded, but it lasts for three to four years. It’s not surprising that a lot of women don’t have the time to dedicate that much time to training. 

Of course, there are lots of other apprenticeship courses out there. Don’t discount this option entirely until you’ve searched around. After all, some apprenticeships only last for a few months. 

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Part-Time Study in London

The College of North West London offers a Level 1 Diploma in Electrical Installation that you can complete on a part-time basis. 

This course starts on the 18th of September 2023, and it lasts for 36 weeks. It’s a big time commitment, but you will learn lots of valuable information and hands-on skills. 

Here are a few of the modules included in the course: 

• Fundamental safe working practices
• Site preparation for working in the construction industry
• Environmental and sustainability measures in domestic dwellings
• Electrical installation wiring and terminations 
• Fabrication techniques for electrical installation 

To be eligible for the course, you must have English and Maths skills at Entry 3/Level 1. The fee is £944. 

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Beginner-Friendly Electrician Courses in London

Lots of qualified female electricians in London began their journey with a simple introductory course. The Good Life Centre hosts brilliant beginner courses that cover all the basics. 

Basic Electrics could be the kickstart you need to feel excited about your career as an electrician. Over the course of 2 ½ hours, you will learn the answers to the most common questions that homeowners, landlords, and tenants ask about their home electrics. In other words, it’s ideal for women who want to become domestic electricians. 

The course costs £85 on weekdays and £95 at weekends. Morning slots are from 10:30 am to 1 pm, evening slots are from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, and weekend slots are from 10 am to 10:30 am. 

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Begin Working as an Electrician 

When you’ve got the right qualifications, you can embark on your dream career. 

Being a female electrician can be difficult at the best of times, so it’s important to surround yourself with supportive people. Our platform connects homeowners to skilled electricians all over London. By entering our pool of self-employed workers, you can join a community of like-minded women who want to set their own hours and hourly rates. 

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Learn how TaskHer works here. 

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