Residential Electrician Program NEC Curriculum | Penn Foster Career School
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Program Details

Residential Electrician Course Details

Penn Foster Career School’s online Residential Electrician program consists of nine courses to help you gain the knowledge and skills relevant for performing residential electrical jobs in a variety of settings - including construction or maintenance companies, manufacturing and wholesale suppliers, and government agencies.

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Program Goal and Outcomes

Program Goal

To prepare students for an entry-level career as an electrician at the apprentice level in the residential and light commercial construction field.

Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...
  • Recognize formulas and their applications to determine quantities and sizes of materials required and their installation processes
  • Compute measurement methods and mathematical processes necessary for the preparation and implementation of electrical related projects
  • Recognize regulations and procedures related to workplace safety
  • Comprehend the principles of interpreting basic electrical blueprints and technical drawings to follow the required specifications of electrical projects
  • Understand the composition and usage of materials and processes required for electrical system installations and repairs
  • Identify procedures for evaluating and diagnostic testing of electrical components and circuits
  • Demonstrate knowledge and application of the National Electrical Code

Orientation to Electrician
In this course, you'll learn tips for how to be a good Penn Foster student. You’ll also be introduced to the basics you’ll need to get started in your new career as a Residential Electrician.

Objectives:

  • Understand how to use your Student Portal.
  • Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
  • Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
  • Study a simplified introduction to electricity.
  • Summarize the different types of careers available to electricians.
  • Learn about voltage and current.
  • Identify the basic components used in a residential circuit.
  • Discover the function of each component in a service entrance.
  • Understand how electrical power is distributed from a power plant to homes and businesses.

Safety and Tools
In this course, you’ll study the major electrical classifications and describe the job functions associated with each. You’ll learn about how the National Electrical Code® applied to manufacturers, installers, and users of electrical equipment. You’ll also find out about the hand tools you’ll use as an electrician.

Objectives:

  • Study the major electrical classifications and describe the job functions associated with each.
  • Learn how to discuss the National Electrical Code® with manufacturers, installers, and users of electrical equipment.
  • Find out how to design safe work habits that lessen the chances of serious electric shock by avoiding those conductive paths most dangerous to your body.
  • Identify the safety equipment that you’ll be required to wear when installing or repairing electrical equipment.
  • Find out about the hand tools you’ll use as an electrician.
  • Learn how to use hand tools and power tools safely.
  • Discover how to perform basic calculations and measurement conversions using the metric system.
  • Use Ohm’s Law to explain the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance in a circuit.
  • Study how electrical measuring instruments are used to measure current, voltage, and resistance.
  • Understand the definitions for many of the basic electrical terms that electricians use every day.
  • Identify the basic symbols used in electrical schematic drawings.

Additional Course Material:

Video: Safe Use of Hand Tools

Equipment: Parts Kit for Electrical Fundamentals

Practical Exercise: Electrical Fundamentals

Electrical Equipment
In this course, you’ll discover what electricity is and how it’s used. You’ll study several common types of wiring equipment. You’ll also learn to identify various types of control devices, including hand-operated switches, automatic switches, magnetically controlled devices, and remote-control systems.

Objectives:

  • Discover what electricity is and how it’s used.
  • Understand many of the important fundamental concepts related to electricity.
  • Study the dangers and benefits of static electricity.
  • Learn about volts, amperes, ohms, series circuits, and parallel circuits.
  • Study several common types of wiring equipment.
  • Learn the important terms that apply to electrical equipment and the electrical symbols that relate to electrical equipment.
  • Discover when and where boxes, cabinets, and panels are used in electrical installations.
  • Understand how to properly install boxes, cabinets, and panels.
  • Note when and where cable and conductor fittings and conduit fittings are used in electrical installations.
  • Learn how to install cable and conductor fittings and conduit fittings.
  • Identify various types of control devices, including hand-operated switches, automatic switches, magnetically controlled devices, and remote-control systems.
  • Discover how to install various types of control devices.
  • Learn about various types of protective devices, including fuses, circuit breakers, and ground-fault circuit interrupters.
  • Study the installation of various protective devices.
  • Find out about various types of electrical loads.

Additional Unit Material:

Video: Installing Switches, Receptacles, and Lampholders

Equipment:

  • Combination Wiring Tool
  • Screwdriver Set
  • Safety Goggles
  • Parts Kit for Installing Electrical Equipment

Practical Exercise: Installing Electrical Equipment

Conductors and Conduit
In this course, you’ll learn to identify the physical and electrical properties and characteristics of conductors. You’ll also learn about the types and characteristics of conduit.

Objectives:

  • Identify the physical properties and characteristics of conductors.
  • Identify the electrical properties and characteristics of conductors.
  • Work with tables that define conductor characteristics.
  • Learn to install and connect wires and cables in residential circuits.
  • Discover how to size conductors to match circuit requirements.
  • Learn to identify and define the types and characteristics of conduit.
  • Discover how to install various types of conduit fittings and supports.
  • Study the tools needed to bend conduit and use those tools correctly.
  • Determine conduit sizing when given a particular wiring job.

Additional Course Material:

Video: Doing Conduit Work

Equipment:

  • Parts Kit for Conduit and Conductors
  • Transformer

Practical Exercise: Conduit and Conductors

Working with Electrical Components and Multimeters
In this course, you’ll study the function of various electrical components and how to work with various types of electrical systems. You’ll also study how old work differs from new electrical-construction work. You’ll apply your math skills to solve real-world, trades-related problems. Finally, you’ll study circuit resistance and multimeters.

Objectives:

  • Study the function of various electrical components.
  • Work with various types of electrical systems.
  • Learn the function of grounding wires and explain how they’re properly connected.
  • Identify terminals on electrical equipment and properly connect them to circuit conductors.
  • Select the proper switches, receptacles, and device boxes needed for given applications and describe how they’re wired.
  • Discover the terminals on light fixtures and explain how they’re wired.
  • Study how old work differs from new electrical-construction work.
  • Learn several ways to run wire in existing structures.
  • Discover the steps to take when installing new electrical devices in existing structures.
  • Outline the acceptable procedure for adapting existing aluminum wire for use with modern devices.
  • Find out how electricians rely on electrical measurements to troubleshoot an existing circuit.
  • Apply your math skills to solve real-world, trades-related problems.
  • Learn about fractions, which are a must for working in any trade.
  • Study units of length and angles, as well as methods of measuring lengths and angles.
  • Learn about the concept of solving problems with formulas.
  • Discover how to set up formulas to find a needed quantity and how to solve the formula.
  • Study circuit resistance.
  • Learn about Ohm’s Law, and discover how it’s used to identify the amount of current, voltage, or resistance that’s in a circuit.
  • Learn about power and how to take basic meter readings in circuits.
  • Learn about voltage, current, and resistance and their relationship in a circuit.
  • Discover how voltage, current, and resistance are measured with a multimeter.
  • Find out some of the important safety precautions you must take when using a multimeter.
  • Learn the purpose of a continuity test.
  • Perform tests for short circuits and resistance tests on resistors, switches, and transformers.
  • Measure current by using a direct series connection and the output voltage of a DC power supply.

Additional Unit Material:

Video: Special Wiring Applications

Equipment:

  • Digital Multimeter
  • Parts Kit for Working with Circuits

Supplement: Multimeter Operation Manual

Practical Exercise: Working with Circuits

Reading Electrical Schematics
In this course, you’ll acquire an understanding of different heating sources and some of the benefits of electric heating. You’ll also discover the function of common components within a building’s HVAC system, a pneumatic automatic control system, and an electric automatic control system. You’ll learn to read schematics and diagrams and to trace wiring diagrams for motor controls.

Objectives:

  • Acquire an understanding of different heating sources and some of the benefits of electric heating.
  • Learn basic terms used in electric heating.
  • Study the basics of heat loss and how insulation, ventilation, and other factors affect heat loss calculations.
  • Discover how heating requirements for buildings are estimated with the degree-day method of calculation.
  • Compare the major selections of heating equipment.
  • Study the relationship of heat, current, resistance, and voltage.
  • Learn the main types of electric thermal-storage systems available, including the advantages of each.
  • Study the various heating controls available.
  • Compare and select electric-heating systems for residential applications.
  • Discover the function of common components within a building’s HVAC system, a pneumatic automatic control system, and an electric automatic control system.
  • Learn about the operation of an electric automatic control system using ladder logic diagrams.
  • Study the operation of an automatic control system for an HVAC system based on ladder logic and schematic diagrams.
  • Learn standard electrical symbols and their meanings.
  • Discover the parts of a schematic diagram.
  • Study the flow of electrical current through circuit devices.
  • Learn about electrical drawings, block diagrams, wiring diagrams, and electrical schematic diagrams.
  • Interpret switch status and describe a switching circuit’s operating behavior.
  • Trace wiring diagrams for motor controls.
  • Study a ladder diagram and its function.

Additional Unit Material:

Learning Aid: HVAC System Schematic

Practical Exercise: Wiring HVAC Circuits

Reading Electrical Blueprints
In this course, you’ll discover how blueprints are prepared. You’ll study feeder and branch circuits and transformers.

Objectives:

  • Discover how blueprints are prepared.
  • Learn how to talk about the relationship of electrical blueprints to the architectural drawings and drawings of other trades.
  • Study the information presented on blueprints.
  • Understand the different methods of presenting information on blueprints.
  • Interpret the common symbols and abbreviations used on electrical blueprints.
  • Trace a wiring diagram and understand it.
  • Learn about feeder and branch circuits.
  • Identify the correct type of general or special-purpose circuit when given a list of circuit descriptions.
  • Discover how wiring is installed for branch circuits in a residence under particular situations.
  • Differentiate among portable, fixed, and stationary appliances, and describe how each type is wired.
  • Study the components needed for an electrical circuit.
  • Calculate the current in a neutral conductor and the size of a service-entrance conductor needed for a residence.
  • Learn the main parts of a transformer.
  • Understand how mutual inductance makes it possible to change an AC (alternating current) voltage or current from one value to another.
  • Determine the turns ratio when the primary and secondary voltages or currents are known.
  • Calculate primary or secondary voltage or current when either of these and the turns ratio are known.
  • Study why transformer cores are laminated (layered).
  • Connect three single-phase transformers for three-phase operation.
  • Calculate line current (if phase current is known) in delta-connected transformers.
  • Discover the principle of operation of an autotransformer.

Additional Unit Material:

Learning Aid: Electrician Blueprint Set

Practical Exercise: Advanced Electrical Work

The National Electrical Code®
Locating the applicable code section to identify specific electrical installation requirements; interpreting and applying code specifications during the electrical-system design process; evaluating sample installations to ensure code compliance.

Objectives:

  • Gain an understanding and appreciation of the National Electrical Code.®
  • Get in-depth coverage for all of the essential elements of the code including terminology, structure, and specific applications and interpretations.
  • Study conductor fill, load, and voltage drop calculations.
  • Learn GFCI requirements, grounding rules, and wiring requirements for hazardous locations.
  • Learn code variables based on single-family and multi-family classifications and residential and commercial classifications.
  • Study code requirements specific to health-care facilities.

Additional Unit Material:

Textbooks:

  • NEC®
  • Electrical Systems Based on the NEC®

Supplement: Work Experience Option

Troubleshooting and Estimating
In this course, you’ll learn about the concept of troubleshooting and the methods of approach applied in troubleshooting. You’ll also study the basics of electrical estimating and the bidding process. Finally, you’ll learn the important considerations of starting an electrical contracting business, including the advantages, disadvantages, skills required, and finances.

Objectives:

  • Understand the concept of troubleshooting.
  • Outline the fundamental steps of electrical troubleshooting.
  • Apply the basic fundamentals of troubleshooting to electrical problems.
  • Learn the methods of approach applied in troubleshooting.
  • Find out the correct method of approach or a combination of approaches to electrical problems.
  • Study the basics of electrical estimating.
  • Learn about the projected cost of getting a job done.
  • Prepare an estimate based on methods to install equipment, man-hours worked, and doing the job right.
  • Study the bidding process.
  • Master electrical estimating by using various methods.
  • Calculate overhead.
  • Complete an estimate summary.
  • Experience a real-life electrical estimating and bid process for a two-story custom home that’s to be built.
  • Learn the important considerations of starting an electrical contracting business, including the advantages, disadvantages, skills required, and finances.
  • Outline the very basic requirements and some suggested actions one might take when opening a business.
  • Study some of the preliminary management responsibilities and challenges associated with owning any electrical contracting business.

Additional Unit Material:

Textbook: Electrical Estimating

Additional Details

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered in the Penn Foster Program. Prospective students should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where they plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in this Program. Click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.
Please review your state board requirements that are applicable to your field of study. State boards may impose a variety of different requirements, which vary from state to state. This is particularly important for those searching for electrician schools in California.
Students enrolled in our online electrician courses are eligible to participate in the Snap-on Student Excellence Program. This program allows students in trades and technology education programs to purchase high-quality Snap-on tools at a preferred student discount. Some restrictions may apply for total purchase and quantities of certain items. Click here to see the new Snap-on Catalog.
Penn Foster Career School Accreditation & Licensing Details
Penn Foster has been accredited for over 50 years. Penn Foster Career School has been thoroughly reviewed and has earned several important accreditations, certifications, and licensing. Most importantly, Penn Foster Career School is both regionally and nationally accredited.

Accreditation
DEAC
MSA
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Penn Foster Sample Lesson

Sample Residential Electrician Lesson

Penn Foster courses are written in a way that is easy to understand, and materials are broken down into manageable lessons. Take a look at what a residential electrician course would look like.

View Sample Lesson
Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need high-speed internet access to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 7® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running OS X® or later, and an email account to participate in and complete your program.
We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.
Apple, Mac, and OS X are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.
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