Available Intakes
Overview
Learn how to install, alter, repair and maintain electrical systems designed to provide heat, light, power, control, signal or fire alarms for all types of buildings, structures and premises.
If you enjoy problem-solving, mathematics and working with your hands, you'll enjoy working as an electrician.
On the job, you'll begin by reading and interpreting electrical, mechanical and architectural drawings, specifications and applicable code to determine wiring layouts. Next, you'll cut, thread, bend, assemble and install conduits and other types of electrical conductor enclosures, pull wire through conduits and holes in walls and floors as well as position, maintain and install distribution and control equipment such as switches, relays, circuit breaker panels and fuse enclosures.
You'll also install, replace, maintain and repair electrical systems. You'll form circuits by splicing, joining and connecting wire before testing the circuits to ensure integrity and safety.
You may specialize in renewable energy – such as wind and solar – and fire alarm systems. During your career, you may be able to work in specific industries including:
- residential (housing developments)
- commercial (office buildings)
- institutional (hospitals, schools)
- industrial (plants and factories).
This is a compulsory trade - to work in this trade you need to hold a recognized trade certificate or be a registered apprentice.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students who have the following characteristics see greater success in the electrical trades:
- good communication and reading skills
- an aptitude for mathematics
- mechanical ability, strength and manual dexterity
- the ability to distinguish colours to work with colour-coded wiring
- the ability to plan, organize and problem solve effectively
- the ability to work at heights and use proper lifting techniques
- coach, mentor and work well within a team or working alone
- a willingness to keep up with new developments, especially as the Alberta codes are updated
- work precisely
- adequate computer skills
- commitment to safe working conditions.
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Electricians are a Red Seal Endorsed trade –a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada.
Career opportunities
Start your career by finding an employer who is willing to indenture you as an apprentice or gain experience with our Pre-Employment Electrician program. As an electrician, you will often work in construction or maintenance for contractors, manufacturers or resource companies and will be required to do a variety of electrical work in residential, commercial and industrial structures. Each job will be a new challenge for you and may require you to work indoors or outdoors on scaffolding or in confined and restricted locations.
After becoming a journeyperson, you may become a foreperson, superintendent, estimator, electrical inspector, technical instructor or move into other management positions. Some journeypersons go on to run their own businesses – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate. In Alberta, a valid Master Electrician Identification Number is required for permits before electrical work can begin on any project. Alberta-certified Electricians may apply to the Alberta Safety Codes Council to become a Master Electrician following three years of certification. At SAIT, we help you become a Master Electrician with our Masters Code and Applied Theory course.
Tuition and fees per year*
- Period 1: $1,263
- Period 2: $1,263
- Period 3: $1,263
- Period 4: $1,779
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change
Requirements
Entrance requirements for all apprenticeship programs are set by Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
When do classes start?
Registration for the 2022/23 academic year opens May 12, 2022.
| Period | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, or 3 | Aug. 29, 2022 | Oct. 21, 2022 |
| 4 | Sept. 26, 2022 | Dec. 16, 2022 |
| 1, 2, or 3 | Oct. 24, 2022 | Dec. 16, 2022 |
| 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Jan. 3, 2023 | Feb. 24, 2023 March 24, 2023 (period 4) May 26, 2023 (flexible delivery) |
| 1, 2, or 3 | Feb. 27, 2023 | April 21, 2023 |
| 4 | March 27, 2023 | June 16, 2023 |
| 1, 2, or 3 | April 24, 2023 | June 16, 2023 |
Strides for student success
SAIT grads Gursh Bal and Kai Fahrion are paying it back by setting up an award for SAIT students interested in a sustainable future.
Admission and completion
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
Successful completion of the following courses:
- English 20-2
- Math 20-3
- Science 10
OR
A pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests
OR
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Entrance Exam
Recommended path
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 30 OR Chemistry 30 OR Science 30
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
How to register
Registration for apprenticeship education is run through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Learn how you can register for your next intake.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services
1.800.248.4823
tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Suite 200 Willow Park Centre
10325 Bonaventure DR. SE
Calgary, AB
After you register
Email is the primary source of communication after you have registered for your intake. Please ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Training
The term of apprenticeship for an electrician is four years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of apprenticeship education in each of the first three years and a minimum of 1440 hours of on-the-job training and 12 weeks of apprenticeship education in the fourth year.
apprenticeship education performance
To be successful in apprenticeship education, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam. The passing grade for each section in the course is a 65%. A passing mark on each provincial exam Exam and the Interprovincial Qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2022/23
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 2 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 3 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 4 | $1,440 | $231 | $108 | $1,779 |
SAIT fees
Campus recreation fee: $49
Lab and material fee: $82
Student support fee: $50
Student technology fee: $50
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
