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An automotive electrician apprenticeship typically involves training in the installation and identification of faults and repair of computer-based equipment, along with the electrical wiring of vehicles. Common vehicles and equipment you will work in include cars, trailers, caravans, agricultural equipments, mining equipment and earthmoving equipment.

As part of your automotive electrician apprenticeship, you will undergo practical training where you will learn how to deal with different issues related to computerised management systems of vehicles such as air conditioning, air bags, electronic fuel injection, automatic transmission, electronic ignition, cruise control and anti-lock braking.

Career Advancements after the Apprenticeship

There are several career paths that you can take following an automotive electrician apprenticeship as an automotive electrical mechanic or automotive electrical fitter. Depending on your preference, once you have a nationally recognised qualification, you have a chance to be one of the following:

• Work with car manufacturers. After completing the apprenticeship program, you can work for different car dealer manufacturers and be in-charge of the installation of electronic computer systems of the vehicles along with other related tasks as an automotive electrical mechanic.

• Automotive shop supervisor. Depending on your skill and experience as auto electrician, your rank can go higher to automotive electrician supervisory position. Your duties will involve supervisory and technical tasks related to the central operation of the automotive repair shop.

• Open your own shop automotive electrical repairs shop. You will need a license and a capital to operate your own automotive repair shop. A number of vehicles these days are equipped with electronic and computerised control systems. Therefore, there is also an increasing demand for automotive electrical repair shops that specialise in the maintenance, diagnosis and repair of modern vehicles that are electronic-controlled.

• Create your own automotive contracting business. You will need a license and a capital to open your own contracting business. You can work independently or be in partner with colleagues in the same field. With a private contracting business, you can get in-touch with companies and organisations for your services. This is similar to freelance work where you simply don’t work for a single employer.

• On-site auto electrician. As an on-site auto electrician, you will be working as an employee for a single employer, like private companies with vehicles and equipments that are computer-based. The most common business you will be working for are agricultural, mining and earthmoving related industries.