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Electrician

Install, maintain and repair wiring and electrical systems in buildings.

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Start with: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill StackTake the career survey

Career facts

Preparation
Medium preparation needed · vocational training, an associate degree or an apprenticeship
Ways in
  • Apprenticeship
  • Associate degree
  • Industry certification
Field
Skilled trades & technical

About this career

Electricians run wiring, install outlets, lighting, panels and circuit breakers, and find and fix faults in homes, offices and factories. They read blueprints, follow the National Electrical Code, and use hand and power tools plus meters that test voltage and current. Most train through a four- to five-year paid apprenticeship, then pass a state licensing exam.

Learning path

Take these courses in order, from beginner to mid-level.

  1. Step 1: STEM Foundations: The Universal Skill Stack

    The shared base every STEM career uses: working with numbers and units, testing ideas fairly, handling data and code, and explaining your work.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 18mAlso used in 34 other careers

  2. Step 2: Foundations for Skilled Technical STEM Careers

    Hands-on technical careers you can enter through apprenticeship: troubleshooting, safety awareness, the routes in, and the trade math you will use every day.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 4h 34mAlso used in 1 other career

  3. Step 3: Digital Literacy for Tech & STEM Work

    The everyday computer, internet, safety and AI skills every tech and STEM job assumes you already have.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 6h 8mAlso used in 34 other careers

  4. Step 4: Professional Communication & Teamwork

    Write clear emails and documents, present and run meetings, work well on teams, and navigate résumés, interviews and networking.

    Level: Beginner4 modules · 12 lessons · 7h 24mAlso used in 34 other careers

  5. Step 5: Math for Tech & STEM

    The practical math behind tech and STEM work: numbers, algebra, functions, geometry, logic and counting, with short code exercises.

    Level: Beginner5 modules · 15 lessons · 7h 32mAlso used in 34 other careers

  6. Step 6: Spreadsheets for Data Work

    Clean tables, correct formulas, lookups, pivot tables and honest charts in Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc or Excel.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 6h 35mAlso used in 16 other careers

  7. Step 7: Workplace Safety & Tools

    Learn your OSHA rights, spot hazards, choose PPE, understand lockout/tagout and electrical safety, and use hand tools, power tools and measuring tools safely.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 10 lessons · 5h 19mAlso used in 4 other careers

  8. Step 8: Technical Drawing & CAD Basics

    Read orthographic views, scales, dimensions, tolerances, schematics, GD&T callouts and floor plans, then sketch and model parts in free CAD tools.

    Level: Beginner3 modules · 9 lessons · 5h 37mAlso used in 4 other careers

  9. Step 9: Electrical Circuits

    Learn DC and AC circuit analysis, power factor and three-phase basics, safe measurement on battery circuits, simulation, transformers, motors and systematic troubleshooting.

    Level: Intermediate4 modules · 12 lessons · 8h 43mAlso used in 3 other careers

  10. Step 10: Electrical Code & Installations

    Read and apply the National Electrical Code: navigation, definitions, adoption, conductor sizing, voltage drop, load calculations, box fill, grounding, GFCI/AFCI, motors and exam prep.

    Level: Mid-level3 modules · 11 lessons · 7h 13m

  11. Step 11: Industrial Controls & PLCs

    Read relay ladder diagrams, match sensors and actuators, understand VFDs, program PLC logic with timers and counters, and troubleshoot, guard and maintain automated machines.

    Level: Mid-level3 modules · 10 lessons · 5h 14mAlso used in 2 other careers

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