Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
Career Overview
Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers:
- Install, repair and maintain telecommunication lines and cables, cable television transmission and distribution systems and associated hardware
- Work for cable television companies and telephone and other telecommunications services
Job Titles
Duties
Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Install, remove, maintain and repair aerial and underground telephone, coaxial and fibre optic cable television and other telecommunication transmission and distribution lines, cables and associated hardware
- Splice and repair various types and sizes of telephone and other telecommunication cables including single line, coaxial and fibre optic
- Repair or replace faulty cables, power supplies, amplifiers and other associated transmission and distribution equipment
- Inspect, monitor, test and adjust telecommunication transmission lines and cables and distibution systems
- Analyze and record test results
- Climb and work high up on poles, ladders or other support structures
- Work in confined spaces such as trenches, tunnels and crawl spaces
- Communicate with other workers to coordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments
- Help with the erection and removal of telecommunication poles, towers and associated support structures
- May operate excavation machinery and other heavy equipment
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,025% Employed Full Time
66%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work may take place in an inside work environment where the temperature or humidity may be different from normal room conditions
- Work can also take place outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
- Working with equipment, machinery or power/hand tools may be a source of injury
- Exposure to electrical circuitry, high tension wires, transformers or other equipment in the workplace may be a source of electrical shock
- Work locations and conditions may also be dangerous such as working on communications poles or ladders
Career Pathways
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is required
Telecommunication line and cable installers and repairers:
- Completion of a four-year telecommunications line and cable apprenticeship program, or
- A combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some industry- related, or
- Other specialized courses, or
- Completion of a two-year college program in electronics is usually required
Cable television maintenance technicians:
- 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
- Completion of a four-year cable television technician apprenticeship program is required
- Trade certification for cable television technicians is available, but voluntary, in British Columbia and the Yukon
Workers who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of B.C. occupational regulators.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,025Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 45 | 4.4% |
| Kootenay | 15 | 1.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 585 | 57.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 25 | 2.4% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 205 | 20.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 145 | 14.1% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
350Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.7% |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 230 | 1.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | -1.7% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 60 | 0.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 0.1% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 170 |
| Construction | 150 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
Resources
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Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC)www.asttbc.org
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Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)www.cctt.ca
