Electrical work is one of the most crucial parts of our modern life. This work requires a professional, as it is essential for both home and commercial spaces. However, during this work, many people get confused about whether they need an electrician or an electrical engineer.
You may be thinking why it is necessary to understand the difference, but honestly speaking, there are several differences between them. Today, in this blog, we are going to share the differences between an Electrician vs Electrical Engineer.
Who Is an Electrician? Skills, Education & Career?
An electrician is a highly skilled person who specializes in installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems for residential and commercial areas. They are highly professional individuals who have deep knowledge about wiring safety regulations and electrical codes.
What Skills or Training Are Required To Become an Electrician?
To become an electrician, a person needs to have several certifications and licenses, like
- A high school diploma or GED
- Vocational Training or Apprenticeship
- A License (Depending On The Place)
However, these are the educational qualifications that you require. Including those, they are something more than a person needs to adapt to. See the table below and familiarize yourself with the other knowledge as well.
| Category | List of Skills |
| Technical Skills and Knowledge | • Electrical Theory • Wiring and Installation • Tool Usage • Blueprint Reading and Interpretation • Troubleshooting • National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Practical Skills | • Manual Dexterity • Physical Stamina • Problem-Solving • Attention to Detail |
| Soft Skills | • Communication • Customer Service • Time Management • Adaptability • Honesty and Integrity |
What is The Role Of an Electrician?
An electrician offers several services to residential, commercial, and industrial places. They work with several parts of the electrical system, like wiring, outlets, lighting, circuitry, and many more.
They not only install but also provide maintenance and upgrading services. Take a look below and know more about their core responsibilities.
- Installation: An electrician is responsible for working with wiring outlets, like fixtures and control systems of a building.
- Maintenance: The team is responsible for inspecting and maintaining electrical systems to ensure that they function safely and efficiently.
- Repair: Electricians have the repair task as well; they need to find the issues and then fix or replace them according to the requirements
- Troubleshooting: Electricians also diagnose electrical equipment with their technical knowledge.
- Adherence to Codes and Regulations: An electrician is also responsible for completing every task while ensuring compliance with all relevant codes and regulations.
- Reading Blueprints and Diagrams: Interpreting technical drawings and specifications to guide installations.
- Inventory Management: Keeping track of electrical parts and supplies.
Who Is an Electrical Engineer? Skills, Education & Career?
Well, an electrical engineer is a highly trained professional who designs, develops, and optimizes all electrical systems. They are not the people who perform the installation and other tasks; they mainly work with the scientific principles of electromagnetism.
Their main role is on a technical and conceptual level, which will ensure the electrical system is safe, efficient, and scalable.
What Are the Requirements To Become an Electrical Engineer?
An electrical engineer needs to have a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, many engineers complete both their master’s and doctorate degrees in this profession. They are also required to have practical knowledge for internships or cooperative programs.
However, they also need some professional skills to become an Electrical engineer, which are listed below.
- Technical Knowledge: An engineer needs to have a strong understanding of mathematics, physics, and Engineering principles.
- Problem-Solving: Analytical ability and critical thinking skills are essential for electrical engineers. This is because engineers must identify complex solutions to engineering challenges.
- Attention to Detail: An electrical engineer is required to have meticulous attention to ensure the safety and functionality of the system.
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam: They have to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
- Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam: This is another exam that an electrical engineer has to clear. After gaining the necessary work experience,
- State Licensure: This is the main thing that allows you to work in a specific location, which is a state license. Generally, you need to pass all the exams and complete the necessary work experience to become a licensed engineer.
What is The Role Of an Electrician?
An electrical engineer has numerous responsibilities at work, including following all rules, designing, developing, troubleshooting, testing, and ensuring safety regulations. They also need to collaborate with electricians to smooth the whole electrical system process. Now, take a look at the table below to see what they need to do at work.
| Category | Responsibilities |
| Design and Development | • Electrical System Design • Component Selection • System Integration • Product Development |
| Testing and Troubleshooting | • System Testing • Troubleshooting • Quality Control |
| Project Management and Collaboration | • Project Planning • Collaboration • Documentation |
| Compliance and Safety | • Safety Regulations • Risk Assessment • Quality Assurance |
| Other Responsibilities | • Research and Development • Technical Support • Continuous Improvement |
Note: Whether you need an electrical engineer or electrician, ensure you choose an Experienced individual or team like Best Price Electricians to do the job perfectly for you.
The Difference between Electrician vs Electrical Engineer
So with all the discussion above, we hope you are clear about their roles, requirements, and individual duties. Now, let’s have a quick look at the difference between an electrician and an electrical engineer at a glance.
| Point of Difference | Electrician | Electrical Engineer |
| Main Role | The technician installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in homes, offices, and industries. | Designs, develops, and improves electrical systems at a technical and conceptual level. |
| Education Needed | High school diploma or GED, vocational training/apprenticeship, and state license. | Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (often Master’s/PhD), plus FE & PE exams, and state license. |
| Skills Required | • Wiring & Installation • Tool Usage • Troubleshooting • Blueprint Reading • Knowledge of NEC • Manual Dexterity • Communication | • Strong Math & Physics • Engineering Principles • System Design • Analytical Problem-Solving • Attention to Detail • Project Planning • Research & Development |
| Core Responsibilities | • Install wiring, outlets, lighting, and fixtures • Maintenance & Repairs • Troubleshooting electrical faults • Following codes and safety rules • Reading blueprints • Managing electrical supplies | • Electrical system design & development • Component selection & system integration • Testing & quality control • Risk assessment & safety planning • Documentation & project planning • Research & continuous improvement |
| Work Focus | Hands-on, practical work on-site (residential, commercial, industrial). | Conceptual, planning, and design-level work (often in offices, labs, or large projects). |
| Collaboration | Works with tools and systems, and sometimes under the guidance of engineers. | Works with electricians to ensure designs are implemented correctly. |
Conclusion
In final words, there is a lot of difference between an electrician vs electrical engineer. When hiring someone for your electrical work, it’s essential to understand your needs and choose the right person.
We hope this guide has addressed all the key points, rules, and requirements that a professional electrician or electrical engineer should be aware of. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime.
