Residential Electrician

The Residential Electrician course is designed to teach you the fundamental skills needed to work with residential electrical systems—no previous experience is required. With booming infrastructure, new energy conservation technology, and an aging workforce, demand for skilled electricians is in high demand, with 80,000 residential electrician jobs opening each year through 2031, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Completing this residential electrician training will prepare you...

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12 Months / 125 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
Offered in partnership with your preferred school

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Course code: GES789

What you will learn

  • Explore this video overview of the Residential Electrician course
  • Review branch and feeder circuits with various types of cable and conduit
  • Service of circuit breakers, lighting fixtures, receptacles, switches, paddle fans, and electric motors
  • Understand how to identify and fix electrical problems on service calls
  • Installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting photovoltaic renewable energy systems
  • Have access to 10 lessons on customer service
  • Instructor-graded assignments and quizzes in each lesson
  • Cover on-the-job scenarios (critical thinking scenarios) and explore in the field photos
  • Optional soft skills for a residential electrician career
  • 3D Models added, including main panel, circuit breaker, DMM, fuses, 3D model walk-throughs, and branch circuit learning check
  • Games including name that function, ampacity, and labeling receptacle

How you will benefit

  • Obtain foundational knowledge and skills needed for entry-level electrician career success
  • Understand how to use the National Electrical Code as well as sizing electrical boxes, circuit conductors, fuses or circuit breakers, and service entrance conductors
  • Gain valuable wiring skills, such as proper use of hand and power tools, splicing wires together properly, attaching electrical boxes to building framing members, fishing a cable in an existing wall, and installing an overhead service entrance
  • Receive a 25% discount on tools from Ideal Industries, a company that produces connectors, hand tools, testers, meters, and more that are needed for success as an electrician
  • Enrolled students are invited to attend our exclusive annual virtual National Apprenticeship Week events, featuring live webinars, workshops, and employer interactions

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 12 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 125 course hours
    1. The Electrical Industry
    2. Residential Electricity – A Basic Overview
    3. Basic Electrical Math
    4. Basic Electrical Theory
    5. Test Instruments
    6. Electrical System Operation Principles
    7. Circuit and Personnel Protection
    8. Electrical Safety
    9. Jobsite Safety
    10. Hand Tools
    11. Power Tools
    12. Building Materials – Conductors and Cables
    13. Building Materials – Enclosures and Cabinets
    14. Building Materials – Terminal Devices
    15. Residential Services and Feeders
    16. Grounding and Bonding of Services
    17. Feeders and Separate Buildings
    18. Construction Drawings
    19. Branch Circuit Basics
    20. Required Branch Circuits
    21. GFCI Protection and Branch Circuits
    22. AFCI Protection
    23. Required Outlets and Devices
    24. Appliance Connections
    25. Project Planning
    26. Troubleshooting
    27. Course Challenge
    28. Soft Skills for the Electrician (optional)

Jorge Garcia

Jorge Garcia has over 20 years of experience in the electrical field as both a practicing and electrical instructor. He has been a licensed electrician since 2000 and currently holds an Electrical Contractor and Master Electrician license from Texas. Jorge currently serves as the Department Chair for Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation Technology at Texas Southmost College. Additionally, he has over 15 years in business as an Electrical Contractor for Exit Light Services. Jorge has an Associate degree in Electrician Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, and is currently in a Learning Technology Ph.D. program. He also holds a Fire Suppression License from the State Fire Marshal Office, Licensed Irrigator, Limited License Electrician from Tennessee, License in Bilingual & Technology Education from Texas Education Agency, National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) Electrical Instructor Certification, and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Authorized Trainer license.

Nate Eaton

Nate Eaton brings a unique blend of instructor and practical experience to his instructor role for the Electrical Technician course. He holds multiple licenses and certificates for his field of work. Nate holds an associate degree in construction electricity from Northwest State Community College. He holds a diploma as a master/trainer instructor and has been a keynote speaker for a local high school graduation.

Prerequisites:

Although it is not absolutely necessary, it is recommended that a person taking this course have some basic knowledge of direct current and alternating current electrical theory. People wanting to become electricians and taking this course should be in good health and have the ability to lift 50 lbs. It also helps to have good agility and manual dexterity. Good color vision is a requirement because electricians often must identify electrical wires by color. It is also important that electricians have good people and communication skills.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word or equivalent (not included in enrollment).
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Simulation Requirements

  • Desktop Browser: A 64-bit web browser
  • Recommend: Mozilla Firefox 52+, Google Chrome 57+
  • Supported: MS Edge 15+, Apple Safari 10.1+

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Electrical Writing Residential with Blueprints
  • National Electrical Code (NEC) 2023

The following digital textbook for this course is accessed via links in the course lessons:

  • Delmar's Standard Book of Electricity (eBook)

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

A residential electrician or home electrician is a tradesperson who handles the repair and installation of electrical systems in residential buildings. Their job could include new wiring and lighting installations, panel changes, surge protection, and more.

A residential electrician is responsible for installing, repairing, inspecting, and maintaining the electrical systems in residential buildings. Depending on their position and expertise, a residential electrician may also be responsible for overseeing teams of workers and assisting with planning electrical projects.

Becoming a residential electrician typically involves undergoing skill training and gaining necessary certifications. However, the specific residential electrician requirements may vary for each state. Please check the required educational hours and hands-on training necessary to become a licensed residential electrician in your state.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average residential electrician's salary in the U.S. is $59,752. There can be opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.

The duration of becoming a residential electrician varies based on the unique requirements of each state or county. Please check with your state or county about the necessary licensing and educational hours.

The typical process of becoming a residential electrician starts with a skill training course, after which candidates need to get hands-on training by working as an apprentice. Each state or country has different requirements for certification, licenses, and educational hours to become a residential electrician. Please check with your state or county about all the necessary requirements for becoming a licensed residential electrician.

A residential electrician works on the installation, repair, and maintenance of wiring and electrical systems in residential buildings. On the other hand, an electrical technician works on the electrical systems in machinery, equipment, and other mechanical devices, typically in manufacturing environments.

Yes, this residential electrician training course prepares candidates with the fundamental skills and knowledge to start work as an apprentice. This course covers electrical theory, wiring and installation, safety procedures, and the use of common hardware, materials, and building plans. Before registering for the course, we recommend that candidates review the state or local requirements for becoming an apprentice.

No, this course is not equivalent to an apprenticeship. However, it prepares candidates to become electrical apprentices. Each state has specific requirements for electrical apprenticeships. Please check with your state or local government about all the necessary requirements for becoming an electrician's apprentice.

This is a 100% online residential electrician course, which means there is no hands-on training in a lab setting. However, students will be able to access simulations to test their skills and get similar training as a hands-on course.

After completing the course, students can apply for electrical apprentice opportunities. Upon completing the necessary work hour requirements, they can proceed to become a journeyman and then a master electrician.

Soft skills are the character traits, professional attitudes, and interpersonal skills that are transferrable across different professions. These may include communication skills, time management, problem-solving, and creative thinking to name a few.

According to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), 97% of employers surveyed believed soft skills were either equally or more important than hard skills. Out of the 46% of new employees that fail within 18 months, 89% were because they lacked essential soft skills such as professionalism and the ability to get along with others.

The top soft skills for residential electricians are troubleshooting, teamwork/collaboration, physical abilities, communication skills, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

This course will provide students with key soft skills related to troubleshooting, teamwork and collaboration, communication skills, problem-solving, and organizational skills. It will also cover 10 lessons on customer service.

When starting a career as a residential electrician, you need to make a substantial investment in tools. To help ease the financial burden, students are eligible for a 25% discount on tools from Ideal Industries through local distributors. Please contact your Student Advisor or Instructor for more details on the discount.

No.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive twelve (12) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successful completion of the Residential Electrician course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This residential electrician course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. 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. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.