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Communication Technician Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work indoors and outdoors icon that represents where Communication Technician work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Communication Technician. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Communication Technician click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Electrical Equipment

Communication Technician

work indoors and outdoors

Communication technicians install, repair, and maintain telecommunication systems.

Is this a career that interests you?

  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; Science; English

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Communication technicians are employed by communication companies that install, maintain, sell, rent, or lease communications equipment, or install private communications systems. The communications industry as a whole is experiencing ongoing expansion.

    Communication technicians are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7246: Telecommunications Installation and Repair Workers. In Alberta, 80% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

    • Information, Culture, and Recreation.
    • Construction.
    • Retail Trae.
  • DutiesDetails

    Communication technicians:

    • Install or repair wiring or cable networks.
    • Work with businesses.
    • Work with residential customers.
    • Intercoms, fax machines, and computer networks.
    • Toll and switching equipment.
    • Other voice, video signal, data over fibre optic.
    • Microwave, radio, satellite equipment.
    • Telecommunications media.
    • Install, terminate and/or test copper and fibre optic conductors and cables.
    • Set up and install raceways and supporting framework.
    • Install, repair, and manage communications equipment.
    • Use codes and standards to manage communication equipment.
    • Read drawings to guide installation of communication equipment.

    Residential Communication Technicians

    • Check work orders.
    • Go to customers homes to set up cable TV, etc.
    • Install jacks, splitter, converters, etc. in customers' homes.
    • Run cable from a utility pole, underground box, or satellite dish.
    • Install cable modems and software.
    • Test installed systems and equipment in customers' homes.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • Office building.
    • Outdoors
      • Travel to work sites.
      • May need to travel to multiple sites in one day.
      • May involve stringing cable from utility poles.
      • Climbing.
      • Balancing on platforms and/or poles.

    Hours:

    • Flexible hours.
    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm).
    • May need to work overtime.
    • May need to work shift work.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • Risk of injury from electrical shock, or falls.
    • Risk of injury while splicing cables.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Mechanical ability.
    • Good math skills.
    • Able to use information to solve problems.
    • Good customer service skills.
    • Works well with others.
    • Able to solve problems on own.
    • Good colour vision.
    • Works well with hands.
    • Good hand-eye co-ordination.
    • Able to climb poles and ladders while carrying tools and equipment.
    • Interested in keeping up to date with changes in technology.
    • Enjoy operating tools and test equipment.
    • Enjoy finding and fixing technical problems.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.
    • Your employer believes your skills and knowledge are the same as a journeyperson.
    • You are self-employed in this trade.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 20-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 20-3 or equivalent.
    • Science 10 or equivalent.
    • or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

    • Work on your first year in grade 10-12 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
    • 4 years.
    • 1st year: 1500 work hours + 6 weeks classroom training.
    • 2nd year: 1500 work hours + 6 weeks classroom training.
    • 3rd year: 1500 work hours + 6 weeks classroom training.
    • 4th year: 1500 work hours + 8 weeks classroom training.
  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

    Outside the apprenticeship program:

    • The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary offers a two year Information Technology diploma program with a specialization in Telecom Systems. Entrance requirements include a high school diploma with least 55 per cent in English Language Arts 30-1 (or 60 per cent in ELA 30-2) and 50 per cent in Pure Math 30 (or 60 per cent in Applied Math 30).

    Pre-employment programs for prospective apprentices and continuing education programs for journeypersons may be offered on an as needed basis by the institutions listed above or other schools.

    For current information about programs, admission requirements, and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars, or websites.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Engineering firms.
    • Sales positions.
    • Management or supervisory positions.
    • If you have supervisory or management experience in this trade, you may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.
    • Location in Alberta.

    Future Trends:

    • More than 2,800Albertans work in this category.
    • Expect an annual above average growth of 2.7% from 2013 to 2017.
    • Forecast about 76 new positions created each year.
    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $25 to $38 an hour plus benefits depending on the level of technical expertise required (2011 estimate). Apprentice communication technicians earn at least 40 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 50 per cent in the second, 60 per cent in the third and 75 per cent in the fourth.

    In additional to hourly wages, residential cable installers earn commissions for the extra services they sell.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Telecommunications Installation and Repair Workers occupational group earned on average from $18.05 to $33.99 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $22.71 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails