Electronic Service Technicians

Description

You always go along with your dad to pick up the TV at the repair shop. When the technician explains what's wrong with it, your dad stares into space with a bewildered look. But you understand perfectly. No doubt about it--you have "techie" blood. (It must be from your mother's side.)

Maybe a career as an electronic service technician is in your future. Electronic service technicians find and repair problems with all kinds of home and business electronic equipment.

Electronic service technicians service and repair household and business electronic equipment including televisions, VCRs, stereos, CD players, photocopiers, and computers. Bench technicians fix equipment that customers bring in to the shop for repairs. Field technicians usually travel to a customer's home or office to repair larger machines.

When equipment breaks down, technicians find and fix the cause of the problem. Often this only means cleaning out dirty parts--like the tape heads on your VCR. Sometimes technicians use test equipment to identify the problem and then use hand tools to fix it.

Specific duties

Electronic service technicians perform some or all of the following tasks:

• Inspect and test electronic equipment, components and assemblies using multimeters, circuit testers, oscilloscopes, logic probes and other electronic test instruments, tools and equipment.
  
• Diagnose and locate circuit, component and equipment faults.
  
• Adjust, align, replace or repair electronic equipment, assemblies and components using a variety of hand and power tools, such as pliers, screwdrivers, soldering irons and wrenches.
  
• Complete written work orders and maintain reports.
  
• Supervise other electronic equipment service technicians.
  

Related careers

You might be also be interested in these careers that have similar educational and/or training requirements, or that share similar duties.

• Computer Systems Analysts
• Electrical Appliance Servicers
• Electrical Engineering Technologists & Technicians
• Supervisors, Electronics Manufacturing

High school path

A CareerMATTERS consultant suggests these high school courses would be helpful. They are not pre-requisites to post secondary programs, nor are they necessary to obtain employment. You should consult with your school counsellor to make the best choices for your own career path.

Recommended Courses
Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
English
ENG1D English, Grade 9, Academic or ENG1P English, Grade 9, Applied	ENG2D English, Grade 10, Academic or ENG2P English, Grade 10, Applied	ENG3C English, Grade 11, College Preparation	ENG4C English, Grade 12, College Preparation
Math
MFM1P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 9, Applied or MPM1D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 9, Academic	MFM2P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 10, Applied or MPM2D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 10, Academic	MBF3C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 11, College Preparation or MCF3M Functions and Applications, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	MAP4C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 12, College Preparation or MCT4C Mathematics for College Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation
Science
SNC1D Science, Grade 9, Academic or SNC1P Science, Grade 9, Applied	SNC2D Science, Grade 10, Academic or SNC2P Science, Grade 10, Applied	SNC3M Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	SCH4C Chemistry, Grade 12, College Preparation or SNC4M Science, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or SPH4C Physics, Grade 12, College Preparation
Optional
TTI1O Integrated Technologies, Grade 9, Open	TCJ2O Construction Technology, Grade 10, Open or TDJ2O Technological Design, Grade 10, Open or TEE2O Computer Engineering Technology, Grade 10, Open or TGJ2O Communications Technology, Grade 10, Open or TIK2O Computer and Information Science, Grade 10, Open or TMJ2O Manufacturing Technology, Grade 10, Open	ICE3M Computer Engineering, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TCJ3C Construction Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation or TDJ3M Technological Design, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TGJ3M Communications Technology, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TMJ3C Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation	ICE4M Computer Engineering, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TCJ4C Construction Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation or TDJ4M Technological Design, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TGJ4M Communications Technology, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TMJ4C Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation

* some workplace occupations may require students to take some college-level courses

* students planning technical school/college training might consider college-level courses

* students should consult their counsellors as to appropriate maths in Grades 11 and 12 for university and college admission

* a job shadowing/co-op experience is recommended

* students should consult their counsellors as to appropriate science courses in Grades 11 and 12 for university and college admission

Post-secondary options

• If your high school offers any electronics courses, be sure to take those as well. And you can learn from "tinkering" with electronic equipment as a hobby.
  
  
• You must take a two- to three-year college program in electronics or complete an
  apprenticeship program to qualify to work as a technician.
  
  
• On-the-job training is required. (It doesn't count if you take apart your radio at home--you have to work under the supervision of an experienced technician.)
  
  
• Trade certification for electronic technicians is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in P.E.I., New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, B.C., the Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory.
  

There may be several different paths to a career. Post-secondary education or training programs will help, but they are not a guarantee. You should research your options carefully before deciding on any program of study. Click here for a comparison chart of institutions or accreditations.

The following programs offered at Ontario post-secondary institutions may be helpful in pursuing a career in this field. In addition to the institutions listed here, please refer to "For more information" (at left) for a list of organizations and associations that may also offer programs of study.

Institution	Programs offered
College
Fanshawe College	Electrical Engineering Technician (Accelerated)
Loyalist College	Electronic Engineering Technician/Technologist
Registered Career College
Creative Career Systems Inc - Owen Sound	Electronic Service Specialist Technician
Creative Career Systems Inc - Toronto	Electronic Service Specialist Technician
Granton Institute of Technology	Electrical and Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair Electronic Engineering Technician Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair Certificate

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Career path

Wondering how you could prepare for a career in this field? Or what else you might do once you have some experience?

Electronic service technicians usually specialize in a certain type of equipment--such as televisions, photocopiers, or computers. With experience and training, they can work in supervisory positions, overseeing the work of other technicians.

If you have good people skills, you may work as a customer service representative. Or down the line, you may want to open your own repair business.

Employers

These are examples of the places, businesses and industries that employ people in this field:

computer service firms
business machine manufacturers
electrical and electronic machinery and equipment wholesalers
business services firms
machinery and equipment wholesalers
electronic equipment manufacturers
appliance, television, radio and stereo store
electrical construction firms
machinery and equipment rental and leasing firms

Work environment

Technicians usually work indoors in a well-lit repair shop, but you may be required to travel to customers' homes or businesses. Watch that back! Things like photocopiers and TVs are heavy.

Although this work is relatively safe, there is a risk of burns or electric shock. Technicians usually work 35 to 40 hours a week (unless everyone's TV breaks down at once!).

Common job titles

Also Known As....

Alarm system technician
Computer service technician
Field service technician--Electronic products
Television servicer
Audio-video service technician
Electronic service technician supervisor
Office equipment service technician
Photocopy machine technician
Radio and television repair apprentice

For more information

Links to associations, organizations, unions and other places that may be able to provide more information.

• Apprenticeship: Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
  Information about apprenticeship opportunities in Ontario including training info, contacts, etc.

• Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists

• Canadian Technology Human Resources Board
  Be sure to check out their Look Ahead, Get Ahead (under Career Choices on left nav.) for terrific info about wide-open choices available.

• Interprovincial Standards
  The "Red Seal" allows qualified trades persons to practise in any province or territory in Canada. Includes a list of all Red Seal trades.

• Ontario Job Futures
  Information on occupations common to Ontario. Includes job descriptions, employment outlook, salaries, etc. (Government of Ontario)