What does an electrician do? Duties, types and a job description

When an electrician does the job well, nothing happens. The lights come on, the machine starts, the kettle boils, and nobody thinks about the cables behind the wall. It is a trade in which success is invisible and failure can kill, which is why the questions of who is competent, and who is supervising, matter so much.

This article explains what an electrician does, the main duties, three types of electrician, what an apprentice electrician does and how competence is demonstrated. For employers, it includes job description templates for an electrician and an apprentice. The qualifications that we describe are those of England and Great Britain. Licensing rules differ in other countries.

Apprentices need a clear path through their first months. See how New Dynamics onboarding brings tasks, early goals and manager conversations into a clear path for a new starter.

What is an electrician?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines an electrician as “a person who puts in, checks, and repairs electrical wires and electrical equipment”.

England's apprenticeship standard for the installation and maintenance electrician, published by Skills England, sums up the occupation in a line: “Install, maintain and repair electrical systems in industrial, commercial and residential environments.”

What does an electrician do? Six duties

Duties vary with the employer and the setting. These six are typical.

1. Plan from drawings. Read wiring diagrams, specifications and building plans. Work out cable routes, loads and materials.
2. Install. Fit cables, containment, distribution boards, sockets, lighting, controls and equipment, in new buildings and in existing ones.
3. Inspect and test. Check that an installation is safe and works as designed, before it is energised and at intervals afterwards.
4. Find and fix faults. Diagnose why something has stopped working, or has become unsafe, and repair it.
5. Maintain. Carry out planned maintenance, so that equipment and installations stay safe and reliable.
6. Certify and record. Complete the certificates, test results and records that show what was done and that it is safe.

Safety runs through every one of them. The Health and Safety Executive's frequently asked questions on electrical safety put the central rule plainly: “It is never absolutely safe to work on live electrical equipment.” Live working must only be done, it says, after it has been determined that it is unreasonable for the work to be done dead. Isolating the supply, proving that it is dead and locking it off are everyday parts of the job.

Three types of electrician

Skills England's main standard lists the job titles electrician, installation electrician and maintenance electrician, and a separate standard covers the domestic electrician. That gives three types.

1. Installation electrician. Works mostly on new installations and rewires, on construction sites and in commercial and residential buildings.
2. Maintenance electrician. Keeps existing systems and equipment running, often in a factory, hospital, campus or large building, with planned maintenance and fault-finding.
3. Domestic electrician. Skills England's separate standard for the domestic electrician describes the role in one line: “Install and maintain electrical services within a domestic setting.”

There are many specialist branches beyond these. Skills England's list includes standards for marine electricians, highways electricians and electrical power network engineers.

Skills of a good electrician

• Technical knowledge: electrical theory, the wiring regulations and the equipment in use.
• Fault-finding: a logical, patient approach to diagnosis.
• Attention to detail. A loose connection is a fire waiting to happen.
• Safety discipline. Following isolation procedures every time, including when it is inconvenient.
• Reading drawings, and some arithmetic.
• Manual skill and physical fitness. The work involves ladders, lofts, floor voids and cramped spaces.
• Communication: with customers, site managers and other trades.
• Record keeping. Certificates and test results are part of the product.

Becoming an electrician: the apprenticeship route

In England the usual route is an apprenticeship. Skills England lists the installation and maintenance electrician standard at Level 3, with a typical duration of 54 months. The domestic electrician standard is also Level 3, with a typical duration of 36 months.

HSE explains how competence is shown. “A person can demonstrate competence to perform electrical work if they have successfully completed an assessed training course, run by an accredited training organisation, that included the type of work being considered.” It adds: “A successfully completed electrical apprenticeship, with some post-apprenticeship experience, is a good way of demonstrating competence for general electrical work.” More specialised work, such as the maintenance of high-voltage switchgear, is likely to require additional training and experience.

Other countries have their own systems of apprenticeship, licensing and registration. Check the rules where you work.

What does an apprentice electrician do?

An apprentice is learning the trade on the job, alongside study with a training provider. Their duties grow as their skill does. Five are typical.

1. Assist. Help qualified electricians with installation and maintenance: pulling cables, fixing containment, mounting accessories.
2. Prepare. Collect materials, set out tools, keep the work area safe and tidy, and look after test equipment.
3. Do supervised tasks. Carry out wiring, termination and testing under direct supervision, with more independence as competence is signed off.
4. Study. Attend college or the training provider, and complete assignments and assessments.
5. Record. Keep a log or portfolio of the work done, as evidence for the qualification.

The key word is supervised. An apprentice should not work alone on tasks for which they have not been assessed as competent, and should never be asked to work live.

Electrician job description template

Adapt this to your organisation. Text in square brackets is for you to complete. It was written by our editorial team as a starting point, and should be checked by someone who is electrically competent.

Job title: Electrician [Installation, Maintenance or Domestic]

Reports to: [Electrical Supervisor or Contracts Manager]

Location and hours: [Site or area covered. Hours, call-out rota, overtime and travel.]

Purpose of the role: To install, inspect, test, maintain and repair electrical systems and equipment safely, to the required standards and on time.

Main duties

• Install wiring systems, containment, distribution equipment, accessories, lighting and controls from drawings and specifications.
• Inspect and test installations, and complete the certificates and records.
• Diagnose and repair faults on electrical systems and equipment.
• Carry out planned maintenance. [For maintenance roles: on the plant and systems that you name.]
• Isolate supplies safely before work, following the site's procedures and permits.
• Work to the current wiring regulations and to health and safety law.
• Order and look after materials, tools and test instruments.
• Communicate with customers, site managers and other trades.
• Supervise and coach apprentices.

Essential

• A recognised Level 3 electrical qualification or completed apprenticeship, or the equivalent where you operate.
• [The inspection and testing qualification, registration card or licence that your work requires.]
• Experience of [domestic, commercial or industrial] work.
• A full driving licence, if the role involves travel between sites.

Desirable

• Experience with [the systems that you use: controls, fire alarms, solar, electric vehicle charging, high voltage].

Safety: [Protective equipment provided. Medical or fitness requirements, with adjustments where reasonable.]

Apprentice electrician job description template

Job title: Apprentice Electrician

Reports to: [Named supervising electrician]

Apprenticeship: [Standard, level, training provider, day or block release, expected duration.]

Purpose of the role: To learn the trade of electrician through supervised work and study, and to complete the apprenticeship.

Main duties

• Assist qualified electricians with installation, maintenance and testing.
• Prepare materials, tools and work areas, and keep them safe and tidy.
• Carry out tasks under supervision, as competence is assessed and signed off.
• Attend all training, and complete assignments and assessments on time.
• Keep a record of work done for the portfolio.
• Follow all safety instructions. Never work on live equipment.

Essential

• [The entry requirements of your training provider, for example in English and maths.]
• Interest in practical and technical work, and willingness to learn.
• Reliability, and care for safety.

Support provided: [A named mentor. Regular reviews with the employer and the training provider. Tools and protective equipment.]

Managing electricians and apprentices well

• Treat competence as a record. Know who has been assessed for what, and assign work accordingly.
• Set goals that include safety and quality, as well as speed. Our article on the chemical engineer's role explains why a production goal should carry its safeguard.
• Review apprentices often. A short monthly conversation about what they have learned, what they have not yet tried and what comes next.
• Give them real work. An apprentice who spends a year sweeping up has learned to sweep.
• Recognise the invisible. Work that nobody notices because nothing went wrong is good work. Say so. Our article on blue-collar work has more on managing skilled trades.

Common mistakes

A vague advert. “Electrician wanted” does not say whether the work is domestic rewires or factory maintenance. They are different jobs.

Asking for the wrong tickets. List the qualifications that the work requires, and no more.

Unsupervised apprentices. It is unsafe, and it teaches bad habits.

Rewarding speed alone. Electrical shortcuts can stay hidden for years.

No record of competence. If an accident happens, “we assumed they knew” is not an answer.

Frequently asked questions

What does an electrician do?

An electrician installs, inspects, tests, maintains and repairs electrical wiring, systems and equipment. The work includes reading drawings, fitting cables and equipment, finding and fixing faults, and completing the certificates that show an installation is safe.

What are the duties and responsibilities of an electrician?

Typical duties are planning work from drawings, installing wiring and equipment, inspecting and testing, diagnosing and repairing faults, carrying out planned maintenance, isolating supplies safely, keeping records and supervising apprentices.

What does an apprentice electrician do?

An apprentice assists qualified electricians, prepares materials and work areas, carries out tasks under supervision as their competence is signed off, attends training and keeps a record of their work. They should not work unsupervised on tasks for which they have not been assessed.

How long does it take to become an electrician?

In England, Skills England gives a typical duration of 54 months for the installation and maintenance electrician apprenticeship, and 36 months for the domestic electrician apprenticeship. Other countries have their own routes.

What are the types of electrician?

England's apprenticeship standards name installation electricians, maintenance electricians and domestic electricians. There are also specialist branches, such as marine, highways and power network work.

How do I know whether an electrician is competent?

HSE says that a person can demonstrate competence if they have completed an assessed training course, run by an accredited training organisation, that included the type of work in question. A completed electrical apprenticeship with some later experience is a good indication for general work.

Your next step: match the job to the ticket

1. Decide which type of electrician you need, and put it in the job title.
2. List the qualifications that the work requires, and check them at interview.
3. For each apprentice, name a supervisor and book a monthly review.
4. Keep a simple record of who is assessed as competent for which tasks.

For a fuller approach to the first months, read and download our employee onboarding guide. The guide is free to read, and the PDF uses our short download form.

Want every apprentice to have clear goals and regular reviews? Book a New Dynamics demo and bring your current approach. You can also email contact@new-dynamics.com.