Residential Electrician (Tools Included)

With booming infrastructure, new energy conservation projects, and an aging workforce, demand for skilled electricians is on the rise—making online residential electrician courses in high demand. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for electricians will increase 7% through 2031, with around 80,000 job openings for electricians estimated each year.

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, the use of common hardware and materials, the 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, one of the most essential soft skills employers seek. On-job scenarios (critical thinking scenarios) will help boost your success, along with quizzes in each lesson.

Our new course also features 3D models, including the main panel, circuit breaker, DMM, fuses, 3D model walk-throughs, and branch circuit learning checks. The addition of games, including name that function, ampacity, and labeling receptacle, paired with in-the-field photo access (provided by the SME) further boosts your real-world success post-graduation.

In addition, you will be prepared for electrician licensing tests, generally required by most states and localities—making this one of the top courses for electricians. 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. As an added bonus, you will be provided with your own 19-piece tool kit carrier from IDEAL Electrical, featuring pliers, screwdrivers, specialty hand tools, a wire stripper, and an electrical tester—all included in your course registration.

Completing this electrician education course will prepare you to pass your state's electrical licensing exam and start an entry-level career as a residential electrician or electrician apprentice. Investing in your electrician education is the first step to your electrician career. Please check with your state, county, or city for residential electrician licensing rules and whether this course's hours will be accepted towards licensing. *This course does not count towards getting a Massachusetts Electrician license.

What 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
• 10 lessons on customer service
• Instructor-graded assignments
• Quizzes in each lesson
• On-the-job scenarios (critical thinking scenarios)
• Optional soft skills for the residential electrician.
• 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
• In the field photos

How you will benefit

• This course provides foundational knowledge and skills that are required of an entry-level electrician
• You will understand how to use the National Electrical Code, sizing electrical boxes, sizing circuit
• conductors, sizing fuses or circuit breakers, and sizing service entrance conductors
• You will 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
• You will receive a 25% discount on tools from Ideal Industries, a company that produces connectors, hand tools, testers, meters, and more that are needed as an electrician
• Enrolled students are invited to attend our exclusive annual virtual National Apprenticeship Week events, featuring live webinars, workshops, and employer interactions
• You will be given a 19-piece tool kit from IDEAL Electrical to help ensure you launch your career with the tools needed for success

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)

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

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

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• 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
• Recommended: 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)

In addition to the textbooks listed above, you will also receive the IDEAL Electrical Residential Electrician's, Tool Kit. The 19-piece tool kit includes a tool carrier bag, featuring the following items:

• 4 Pliers
• 7 Screwdrivers
• 6 Specialty Hand Tools
• 1 Wire Stripper
• 1 Electrical Tester

Material Fees are non-refundable upon registration

Please note: Due to the high cost of these items, tools will not be shipped until 10 days after your start date.

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.

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.

What is a residential electrician?

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.

What does a residential electrician do?

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.

How to become a residential electrician?

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.

How much does a residential electrician make a year?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average residential electrician's salary in the U.S. is $ $58,079. There can be opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.

How long does it take to become a residential electrician?

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.

What is the required training and license?

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.

What is the difference between a residential electrician and an electrical technician?

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.

Would you be ready for an apprenticeship after the program?

Yes, this 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.

Is this course equivalent to an apprenticeship?

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.

Is it all online, or is there hands-on labs and training?

This is a 100% online 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.

What career paths can I take after completing this 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.

What are soft skills and what are the top soft skills for residential electricians?

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.

What soft skills does this course focus on?

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.

What is the 25% tools discount for students?

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.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

No.

When can I start the course?

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.

How long does it take to complete this course?

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.

What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?

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.

What kind of support will I receive?

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.

What happens when I complete the course?

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

Am I guaranteed a job?

This 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.

Can I get financial assistance?

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.

How can I get more information about this course?

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.

"I recently secured an apprenticeship position at a commercial company. Your course was very straightforward, and I learned more than I would have ever anticipated in this past year. I can now start my career and be well on my way to being an electrician in the field, which has been a goal of mine for a very long time. I had actually switched out of electrical engineering last year, and the switch into this course could not have been more seamless." -Brandon P.

"Thanks so much for creating this program! It's very refreshing to see and set higher standards in this trade. I found the course to be very interesting and helpful. It has already helped me land a job with a very promising and proactive solar company. This course has definitely set my standards for this trade. Thank you." -Dalton W.

"This course helped put me on a new career path that I am very excited for. Having a baby girl at home, I wanted to find something that could give me a better work-life balance than the hospitality field and a trade that has a secure future. I was taken on as an apprentice for a small local electrical company in my area, and I have been really loving it the past two weeks. They're going to sign me up and pay for my apprentice schooling through the state, which starts in September. I'm beyond excited and hoping to reach journeyman status in the not too distant future." - Liam M