Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians

Example job titles

• apprentice communication electrician - switching
• cable television service technician
• cablevision servicer
• cellular telephone technician
• direct broadcast satellite (DBS) technician - cable television
• exchange tester - telecommunications
• mobile radio installer - telecommunications
• private branch exchange (PBX) installer - telecommunications
• switch network installer and repairer - telecommunications
• switch network installer and repairwoman - telecommunications
• telecommunications equipment technician
• telephone communication technician
• telephone installer
• telephone line and station installer

Main duties

• This group performs some or all of the following duties:
• Telephone installers and repairers
• Install, arrange, remove and maintain telephone equipment, wiring and associated hardware
• Test installed telephone systems to locate transmission faults
• Repair or replace defective and damaged telephones, wire and associated equipment.
• Switch network installers and repairers
• Install electromechanical, analog and digital trunking systems, circuits and equipment in telecommunications central offices and switching centres
• Inspect and test trunking systems, circuits and equipment
• Analyze test results and adjust, change or repair switching system, network, associated equipment and software.
• Telecommunications service testers

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Telephone and switch network installers and repairers require completion of an apprenticeship program ranging from three to four years or a combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry related courses.
• Cable television service technicians require completion of a college program in electronics or a combination of college, correspondence or industry courses related to electronics and electrical systems and on-the-job training or completion of a four-year cable television technician apprenticeship program is required
• Telecommunications equipment technicians usually require completion of a college electrical and electronics program and several months of on-the-job training or completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship training program.
• Trade certification for communication technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• Experience as an installer and repairer (telephone and switch network) is usually required for service testers.

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