Updated November 2022

If you're looking for a short route to an in-demand career, the skilled trades are an excellent area to explore.

We're not talking about roles like electrician and plumber, which take five years of training and apprenticeship to get certified. We're talking about trades that take less than a year to go from being a complete beginner to being fully qualified for hands-on roles employers need to fill.

In this post, we're focusing on three of today's quickest, most in-demand trades: network cabling specialist, gas technician, and appliance service technician.

All three of these careers have solid job outlooks, but don't require lengthy training or even an apprenticeship.

Read on to compare roles, salaries, and employment options for each trade--and see which one could be right for you.

Photo: Electrician students at Herzing College in Toronto (2019)

Updated December 2022

Exactly what kinds of work or areas of specialty can you pursue after electrician training? Is there more to this trade than routine wiring installation and repairs?

Absolutely. After you've completed electrician training, there's a wide range of career paths open to you. It all depends on your individual strengths, preferences, and career goals.

What kind of environment do you want to work in? Are you fixed on avoiding outdoor work? Are you especially interested in electronics, computers, renewable energy, or telecommunications?

In this post, we're comparing electrician career paths to help you see what's out there.

Certain paths require additional training. Others are directly related to the skills you'll learn in a typical construction and maintenance electrician program.

Here's a look at some of your top options, plus some helpful information on training.