Herzing Skilled Trades

Certified Electrician instructor, Lakeram Ramkaran at the Herzing College Toronto campus

Lakeram Ramkaran has been teaching Herzing's Pre-apprenticeship Electrician training since the beginning of 2020. But his experience as an electrician goes way back, all the way to Guyana, where he learned how to build circuits as a young boy.

Like so many Torontonians, Lakeram immigrated to Canada looking for new opportunities. He retrained to meet Canadian electrician certification requirements, passed the exam, and became a master electrician.

He also earned certification as an Ontario teacher in 2011, setting him on the path to a career in skilled trades education.

Ten years later, Lakeram is helping train the next generation of electrician apprentices. A veteran of the trade with 15 years of practical experience, Lakeram is the ideal person to answer our questions about becoming an electrician.

Updated December 2024

Good electricians will always be in demand. Talented “sparkies” are respected for their intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and technical knowledge.

However, it takes several years of training and hard work to become an electrician. And life on the job isn't always easy. Do you have what it takes? Is this the right trades career for you? 

In this post, we put together the most common pros and cons of becoming an electrician.  Salary, working conditions, certification requirements, job safety, cost of training—we cover it all. 

Find out if a career as an electrician is a good fit for you and what steps to take next. 

Pre-apprenticeship students in class at Herzing College (2019)

Updated December 2024

Electricians and plumbers have more in common than you might think. They’re both respected tradespeople. They both provide an essential service that will always be in demand. They’re both well paid and if they want, can go into business for themselves. 

So which trade should you choose? Should you become a plumber or an electrician? 

There’s always been debate over which of these trades is “better”. The truth is, there is no right answer. But, there are a few things you can think about, to help figure out which path fits you best. 

Here are seven key points to consider when making your decision. 

Photo: Leshan Patterson at Herzing College

Updated April 2022

Leshan Patterson never intended to pursue a career in the skilled trades. He went to university and earned a degree in bio-medical science before realizing he wasn't on the right career path.

Leshan started researching other options and discovered he was a perfect fit to become an electrician. He enrolled in the Combined Electrician and Network Cabling Technology Program at Herzing and never looked back.

Now, he's graduated from the program, and just been hired as an Electrician Apprentice with Micromaster Pioneers - a Toronto company that delivers residential and commercial electrical services.

We interviewed Leshan to find out what he thought of Herzing's training, and what he's up to at his new job. He gave us an inside look at what it's like to go back to school, and take a chance on a new career path.

Here are the highlights from our conversation.

Updated December 2024

If you look at skilled trade forums and discussion groups online, you'll often see debate over HVAC and electrician—and which career path is better. It's not that one trade is actually superior to the other. It's more that they're both very popular...so students often have a hard time deciding which path to pursue.

In this post, we're breaking down the benefits of both trades. To help you make a smart decision, we'll look at training, key skills, job outlook, and typical pros and cons of HVAC and electrician work.

In the end, it will come down to which field you're more passionate about. But we're hoping this information helps clarify a few things. Let's get started.

Updated December 2022

Planning to become an electrician apprentice in Ontario? You'll need to follow a specific set of steps from total beginner to licensed journeyperson.

Those steps usually start with some kind of pre-apprenticeship electrician training. This is followed by a mandatory apprenticeship with a licensed electrician.

Once your electrician apprenticeship is complete, you can challenge the certification exam. Pass the exam, and you can get registered as a licensed journeyperson in the trade.

How long do all these steps take? And what kinds of tasks will you perform as an electrician apprentice?

In this post, we break down the training and certification process, including typical tasks for beginner electricians.

Here's how you become an electrician apprentice (and ultimately a licensed electrician) in Ontario.

Updated April 2022

"So, how much math do I really need to know to become an electrician?" We get this question all the time when we're interviewing applicants for electrician training.

Many students who are considering electrician training feel insecure about their math skills.

By the time high school graduation rolls around, many are totally "done" with math. They never want to see another algebraic equation or geometry question as long as they live!

Sound familiar? Have you heard that electricians use a lot of math on the job, and figure you shouldn't even bother considering this trade?

Before you make up your mind, first understand how electricians actually use math. Take a look at some common applications of math in day-to-day electrical work.

Updated December 2023

With the construction industry booming and large numbers of older workers retiring, the time is right to begin a career in the skilled trades.

While there is currently high demand for many occupations related to construction, new grads still have to compete for great jobs. Choosing to learn two trades is an excellent strategy for maximizing your opportunities in the job market.

Updated December 2024

Should you become an electrician? If you look at it from an employment and salary angle, the answer is easy.

Electricians have been in steady demand across Ontario for the past several years—and the trend is expected to continue.

Salaries for electricians are also going strong. The median wage for electricians in Ontario right now is $34 per hour, or about $71,000 a year.

At the high end of the pay scale, electricians are making $50.41 per hour—that's $105,000 a year. (Salary information is based on the latest report from the Government of Canada Job Bank.)

But it's not all about money.

To do well in electrician training, and feel happy in your career, you'll need a certain set of professional and personal skills.

So let's take a look at eight of the most important skills for successful electricians.

By the time you reach number eight, you'll have a much better idea of whether this trade is right for you (plus some helpful links and steps to take next). Let's get started.