To receive certification, repairers must pass qualifying exams corresponding to their level of training and experience. Both programs offer associate certifications to entry level repairers. Experienced repairers with advanced training may become specialists or troubleshooters who help other repairers diagnose difficult problems. Others may move into higher paying jobs, such as skilled craft positions. Workers with leadership ability may become supervisors of other repairers.
Some experienced workers open their own repair shops.
Top Job opportunities should be best for applicants with a thorough knowledge of electronics, as well as electronics repair experience. Employment of electronics repairers of commercial and industrial equipment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2008. Growth will be concentrated in private industry, where the increasing use of equipment will create new jobs for repairers. Employment of repairers in the Federal government will decline, however, as the Defense Department increases its use of outside contractors to provide repair services. In addition to employment growth, many job openings should result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.