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Electrical

Summary

Student in Electrical Program

Students in the Northeast Electrical program will become proficient in electrical wiring, hardware installation and repair of electrical and related equipment. In addition, the students will become familiar with circuit design, blueprint reading, and the laws and regulations pertaining to the electrical field. Students enrolled in the Electrical program will learn the proper use of hand tools, power tools, hydraulic tools, taps/dies, grinders, and heat tools for bending polyvinyl chloride conduit. They are introduced to a wide range of specialized wiring within the electrical industry such as fire alarm systems, burglar alarms, signal circuits, television, communications circuits and boilers. Students who are enrolled in the Electrical program of studies must successfully complete the fundamentals of the electrical curriculum from their sophomore to senior year. The course introduces students to electrical concepts and theories. Upon successful completion of the fundamentals of the electrical course, the students will focus on electrical theory, the National / Massachusetts Electrical Codes, specialty circuits drawing, and mathematics related to the electrical field.

Opportunities

Upon graduation, students are employable as:

  • Electrician
  • Electrical Apprentice
  • Electrical Power-Line Installers/Repairers
  • Lineman
  • Electrical Warehouse Suppliers
  • Telecommunications
  • Data Communication Specialists

Technical and Higher Education Majors

  • Construction Technology
  • Electrical Engineering Technology
  • Construction Engineering Technology
  • Construction Management and Inspection

Certifications

Experienced electricians can advance to jobs as supervisors. In construction, they also may become project managers or construction superintendents. Those with sufficient capital and management skills can start their own contracting business, although this often requires a special electrical contractor license. Supervisors and contractors should be able to identify and estimate costs and prices and the time and materials needed to complete a job.  Some electricians also become electrical inspectors.

Apprentice/Licensure Connections

  • Journeyman: 600 hours of classroom instruction and 8000 hours of supervision over a period of not less than 4 years
  • Master: 150 hours of classroom instruction and hold journeyman license in good standing with the Board for one year. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Electricians, 1000 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118

Connections to Work and Higher Education

Industry Affiliations: SKILLS USA

Industry Certifications Available in High School

  • OSHA 10 Construction, Safety & Health Certification
  • Hot Work Safety Certification
  • MA Electrician Apprentice/License: earn hours toward license tier system: 1800 working/300 classroom hours

College Credits toward post-secondary certifications/degrees can be earned through Articulation Agreements with:

  • MA State Engineering Tech Articulation Agreement: One or more EL courses at an MA community college

Courses

  • The Ninth grade exploratory program is a week-long introduction to the electrical shop and trade. Students learn shop and hand tool safety. A series of projects designed to mimic common home wiring gives the student a chance to use some of the trade tools and learn with a hands-on approach to basic residential wiring.

  • This 9th-grade program is the start of the student’s apprentice training. Students will start the learning process with an introduction to the foundations of the electrical field receiving detailed instruction of safety and tool protocols.

  • The 10th-grade shop program is a basic introduction to proper use of tools, safety precautions and wiring methods, including but not limited to bell wiring, non-metallic sheathed cable, armored cable, surface metal raceway, electric metallic tubing, and ridge metal conduit wiring methods.

  • Related and theory training for all grades include review and mastery of Electrical safety practices, the National Electrical Codes, the Massachusetts Electrical Code, blueprint reading, electrical math, science, circuit drawing and electrical theory to correspond with their grade level.

  • The Grade 11 program is structured to include wiring methods consisting of PVC bending, installation and residential services. As with all grade level curriculums, safety and proper use of all tools is reinforced. Eligible students may participate in community-based job site activities under the supervision of Northeast instructors.

  • Related and theory training for all grades include Electrical safety practices, the National Electrical Codes, the Massachusetts Electrical Code, blueprint reading, electrical math, science, circuit drawing and electrical theory to correspond with their grade level.

  • At this level students learn to troubleshoot, trace electrical wiring, circuitry and motor control wiring in the shop. Students utilize their safety training of power tools, ladders, pipe bending and wiring skills during new installations within the school and offsite at community-based work sites supervised by Northeast instructors. Network and communication wiring is also learned at this level.

  • Related and theory training for all grades include Electrical safety practices, the National Electrical Codes, the Massachusetts Electrical Code, blueprint reading, electrical math, science, circuit drawing and electrical theory to correspond with their grade level.