Electrical installation courses are offered at community colleges or vocational and technical schools. They are generally stand-alone classes and programs rather than associate or bachelor's degree programs, although some schools may have electrician programs or tracks within other majors. They are also offered by groups, organizations and employers of electricians, such as the Electrical Utility Safety Association (EUSA). Some are designed for employers to send employees to learn new standards and regulations.
Courses usually consist of a combination of classroom instruction and labs, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with wiring. Some have prerequisites courses covering installation terminology and logic.
Courses are designed to teach Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) regulations, as well as national safety standard for electricians, the National Electrical Code, and state and local regulations. Courses to prepare students for licensure include studying for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge.
Overview and comprehensive courses cover how to examine structures and install electrical fixtures in houses, cars, planes and ships. They cover both commercial and industrial wiring, with a focus on confining energy to a particular unit and general electrical installation. Topics include safe approach distance, calculation of arcing fault clearing time and hazard risk, limits of approach, circuit analysis, electrical theory, load calculation, branch circuit and fault current calculations, isolation and grounding, lockout and isolation of electrical fixtures and equipment, over-current protection, grounding techniques, raceway panel board installation and building plan analysis and implementation, which is different for home and commercial environments.
Safety is usually a key feature to electrical installation courses. This includes instructions for handling electrical circuits, hazard analysis and interpretation and unsafe working conditions. The specific dangers of electrical blast, short circuits, ground faults, lifting injuries, fire spread, electrocution and overloads are explained. Courses might also examine maintenance procedures, related work permits, personal protective equipment and locking and tagging devices. Courses teach students how to select, identify and become comfortable with power tools used in installation and electrical measuring.