Residential Electrician

Overview

Electrical work has some of the best opportunities for career stability, especially for residential technicians. If you want to start a career in electrical work, this 100% online course will prepare you for an entry-level residential electrician apprenticeship.

The Residential Electrician course is designed to teach you the fundamental skills needed to work with residential electrical systems—no previous experience is required. You will learn electrical theory, wiring and installation, safety procedures, use of common hardware and materials, use of building plans, and more. You will also have access to more than 30 virtual simulations that simulate hands-on practice and 10 lessons on customer service, which is one of the most important soft skills employers are looking for and a skill that will help you grow quickly in your career.

In addition, you will be prepared for electrician licensing tests, generally required by most states and localities. While tests differ, you will need to understand the common situations in electrical work, including the use of the National Electrical Code®, local electrical codes, circuits, and various types of wiring methods.

Job Outlook

  • According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), electricians earn a median annual salary of $55,000, which is almost $10,000 more than the average of all construction and trade jobs.
  • The BLS estimates that jobs for electricians will grow by 10% through 2028, is over 74,000 new jobs.

Objective

What You’ll Learn…

Upon completion of this course you will learn:

  • Branch and feeder circuits with various types of cable and conduit
  • Service of circuit breakers, lighting fixtures, receptacles, switches, paddle fans, and electric motors
  • Identifying and fixing electrical problems on “service calls”
  • Installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting photovoltaic renewable energy systems

    Outline

    PREPARING AND PLANNING A RESIDENTIAL WIRING JOB
    Residential workplace safety, hardware and materials used in residential wiring; determining branch circuit, feeder circuit and service entrance requirements

    RESIDENTIAL SERVICE ENTRANCES AND EQUIPMENT
    Introduction to residential service entrances; service entrance equipment and installation

    RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ROUGH-IN
    General Nec® requirements for rough-in wiring; installing electrical boxes, cables, switching and branch-circuits

    RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TRIM-OUT
    Lighting fixture installation, device installation and service panel trim-out

    MAINTAINING AND TROUBLESHOOTING A RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM
    Checking out and troubleshooting electrical wiring systems

    GREEN HOUSE WIRING TECHNIQUES
    Green wiring practices and photovoltaic (PV) system installation

    MANAGING CUSTOMER SERVICE
    Winning customer service, customer expectations and moving forward with the four P’s

    Prerequisites and Requirements

    There are no prerequisites to take this course.

    Instructor(s)

    Greg Fletcher has over 40 years of experience in the electrical field as both a practicing electrician and as an electrical instructor. He has been a licensed electrician since 1976 and currently holds a Master Electrician’s License in the State of Maine. In 1988, he was appointed as the Department Chairman of the Trades and Technology Department and Program Director/Instructor of the Electrical Technology program at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, Maine. He is the author of several textbooks including Residential Construction Academy: House Wiring, Guide to Using the National Electrical Code, and The Electrician’s Guide to Photovoltaic System Installation. He has an associate’s in Electrical Construction and Maintenance, a Bachelor of Science in Applied Technical Education, and a Master of Science in Industrial Education.

    FAQs

    1. What is the difference between a Residential Electrician and an Electrical Technician?
      While residential electricians and electrical technicians both deal with electrical systems, the nature of their work is different. Residential electricians install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair the wiring in buildings, whether that be residential homes, offices or commercial properties. On the other hand, electrical technicians work on electrical systems within machinery, specialty equipment and other commonly used devices.
    2. How long does it take to complete a program?
      When you register, you’ll receive twelve (12) months to complete this program.
    3. Why are Residential Electricians in demand?
      The biggest reasons for job growth in the electrical field is construction. In the U.S, the population will grow 2 million people per year until 2030, which will mean more construction jobs.
    4. Where are Residential Electricians needed the most?
      When it comes to construction, electrical workers are the first in to install electrical systems. Infrastructure development also comes with new residential and commercial projects. Older buildings need to be retrofit with technology and alternative energy sources.
    5. Do Residential Electricians need licensing?
      Licensing in the electrical field differs state to state. Generally speaking, the licensing process for electricians starts at apprenticeship (2-4 years), then journeyman (5-6 years) and finally master electrician. This course will prepare you for an apprentice-level job.
    6. Can I get financial assistance?
      ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid.  In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.  Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements.
    7. What happens when I complete the program? 
      Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the ECU Office of Continuing Professional Education.
    8. When can I start the program?
      Our programs are all open enrollment.  You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready. Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.