What is the difference between Domestic Electrician and commercial electricians? The answer to this question will determine your career path if you are interested in the electrical trade. However, you don’t have to decide right away. Many electricians begin by working in residential environments before moving on to become commercial electricians.
This guide will explain the key differences between domestic and commercial electricians in terms o f qualifications and training. We’ll then discuss the responsibilities and roles associated with each job. The guide will also provide information about the UK wages for each role.
Qualifications and Training
You have the option to start your career as an electrician by becoming an apprentice, a diploma holder, or taking part in domestic electrician courses. (For more information, see our guide on how you can become an electrician). Domestic electricians are able to train up faster and get the required qualifications quicker than fully-qualified commercial electricians.
Domestic Electricians
A domestic installer course is the fastest way to become a domestic electrician. These courses will prepare you for the role of domestic electrician by preparing and testing you in key topics like wiring regulations, electrical installations tasks, Part-P regulations and inspection/testing.
Some courses in domestic installation will give you the opportunity to earn City and Guilds certifications. These qualifications, while not making you a fully-qualified electrician, allow you to perform domestic work and allow you to become registered with organizations such as the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, ELECSA, and NICEIC.
Domestic electricians may choose to go the diploma route and study for the Level 2 or Level 3 Diplomas of Electrical Installation before they start working in the field. Others will begin their apprenticeships and then take the Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation and the Apprentice NVQ exams to graduate from the position of improver, also known as an electrician’s friend.
Commercial Domestic Electrician
Only licensed electricians are qualified to work in commercial settings on more complex tasks. You will need an electrotechnical qualification before you can specialize. This could be either a Level 3, NVQ Diploma, in Electrotechnical Services Maintenance (Maintaining Electrotechnical Systems), or a Level 3, NVQ Diploma, in Installing Electrotechnical Systems & Equipment Buildings, Structures and the Environment. You will need the Level 3 Diploma In Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures), if you started as an apprentice.
You can specialize in particular types of commercial electrical work once you have one of these three qualifications. For example, you could study for additional qualifications to be able to work in the solar sector. Commercial electricians may earn their additional qualifications and then work in a multi-skilled environment as an electrician.
