Electrician
Install, repair and certify electrical work in homes, businesses and industry. One of the fastest routes to earning a good living.
What the job involves
- Install and repair wiring, distribution boards and motors.
- Fault-find on industrial and domestic systems.
- Issue Certificates of Compliance once licensed.
School subjects you need
Mathematics strongly preferred. Confirm the exact requirement with the institution you apply to.
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
- English
- Physical Sciences
- Electrical Technology
- Mathematics
Marks you normally need
- Minimum NSC pass
- Grade 9 for N1 entry; Grade 12 helps and speeds up progression
- Indicative APS
- Not applicable — colleges use subject minimums, not APS
- Subject percentages institutions look for
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy: 40%+
- Physical Sciences helps with N-course theory
These are indicative ranges for guidance only. Every university, university of technology and TVET college sets its own admission requirements — check the current prospectus of the institution you are applying to.
Study routes
- TVET N1–N3 plus apprenticeship and trade test3–4 years
You earn a wage during the apprenticeship; the trade test makes you a qualified artisan.
- Learnership with an employer3 years
Combines classroom theory with on-the-job workplace hours.
What you could earn
- Entry level
- R6 000 – R12 000 per month as an apprentice
- Mid-career
- R20 000 – R35 000 per month qualified
- Senior
- R40 000 – R70 000+ per month (master electricians and contractors)
Indicative gross monthly ranges from public South African salary sources. They vary by employer, province and experience, and are not guarantees. Compare all careers.
Where you can study this
Public institutions that commonly offer this field. Confirm the exact programme, its minimum APS and the closing date on the institution's own admissions page.
- University of JohannesburgUJ · Johannesburg
- Nelson Mandela UniversityNMU · Gqeberha
- Walter Sisulu UniversityWSU · Mthatha, East London, Butterworth, Komani
- Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCPUT · Cape Town and Bellville
- Durban University of TechnologyDUT · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- Tshwane University of TechnologyTUT · Pretoria and surrounding campuses
- Vaal University of TechnologyVUT · Vanderbijlpark
- Central University of TechnologyCUT · Bloemfontein and Welkom
- Mangosuthu University of TechnologyMUT · Umlazi, Durban
Official sources
Questions learners ask
Isifinyezo / Opsomming
isiZulu: Ufaka futhi alungise ugesi ezindlini nasezimbonini. Ungaqala ngo-N1 emva kwebanga 9.
Afrikaans: Installeer en herstel elektriese werk. Jy kan ná graad 9 by 'n TVET-kollege begin.