Online Electrician Schools: How to Choose

Online electrician training programs can be found in a hybrid format, but students should expect that much of their practical training will be conducted in person. There are online undergraduate degree options for professional electricians as well.

How to Choose an Online Electrician School

Program Types

Electricians learn their trade on the job, so fully online programs for inexperienced individuals aren't feasible. There are, however, some hybrid certificate and degree programs that combine on-the-job apprenticeships with selected online courses. Other degree completion programs allow journeymen electricians to earn an associate's degree by applying their prior apprenticeship hours to a degree program and fulfilling elective and general education requirements, which could be offered online. Finally, some schools offer individual online electrician courses that can be taken as non-credit continuing education or for personal interest.

Electrician Licensing

While a formal education isn't required to work as an electrician, most states do require electricians to be licensed before they can legally work. The majority of electrician programs thus include preparation for state licensure exams. Prospective students will want to research the licensing rules for their state.

List of Online Electrician Programs

Online Continuing Education Courses

Apprentice, journeyman and master electricians typically need to complete continuing education to maintain state licensure. Some schools offer self-paced courses that can fulfill state requirements. Professionals can take courses that cover several topics, such as solar heating, photovoltaic systems, solid-state electrical devices, testing methods and variable-speed motors. Courses usually don't offer college credit but do comprise 5-6 hours of continuing education credit.

Online Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Construction

Associate's degrees in electrical construction provide professional electricians the opportunity to earn a college degree and apply work experience toward program requirements. The American Council on Education defined a standard 5-year electrical apprenticeship as being equal to 51 college credits (www.2.acenet.edu). The remaining credits needed for an associate's degree can be completed by taking some or all remaining courses online. Schools usually feature an online learning system, like Moodle, and students will need access to high-speed Internet and multimedia software.

Electrician Apprenticeship Program

Electrician apprenticeship programs give individuals on-the-job instruction and training to prepare for work as independent electricians. Most apprenticeship programs offer paid employment during training, as well as credited courses that can be applied toward a certificate or associate's degree in the field. During an apprenticeship, students might work alongside residential wiring electricians, industrial electricians, commercial electricians or other power company employees.
They'll also complete on-campus and online classes in topics such as electrical theory, electrical codes and regulations, blueprint reading, safety and first aid, heat tracing and freeze protection, contractors and relays, and conductor installations. Motor calculations, operation and maintenance are also covered. In addition to high-speed Internet access, students may need traditional textbooks and a calculator capable of basic trigonometry functions.