The SCIT Electrical Program

Electricians perform an essential service, designing, installing and repairing the systems that bring electrical power to our homes and workplaces. For the user, electricity is like magic, but electricians deliver it to us safely and effectively in accordance with strict regulatory guidelines. One of the best ways to start your electrician career is to enroll in a well-regarded training electrician program at Southern California Institute of Technology.

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Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in California

Electricians at all levels register in California, including trainee electricians, who must be enrolled in a program on the state’s official list, like Southern California Institute of Technology based in Anaheim. To advance to journeyman status, you need to show your completion of hundreds of classroom hours and thousands of hours on real electrical sites. You’ll also need to take a tough test. In order to bid for high-level electrical jobs, you’ll need to become a master electrician, which requires more education and work experience. The good news is that you can earn decent wages throughout all stages of your journey as an electrician.

The Electrical Program at Southern California Institute of Technology

The program at SCIT takes eight months to complete and teaches the basics of how to install and maintain electrical systems in homes, businesses and industrial settings. It’s all based on the guidelines set out in the US National Electrical Code. The program is great for people who are already working or have caretaking responsibilities, as you can take morning or afternoon courses.

Electrical work is a discipline that is best studied with lots of hands-on practice, so you’ll learn electrical wiring by working with real systems in multiple instructional lab sessions. You’ll spend about half your time in the classroom and half in the lab.

Students learn electrical wiring by working on skill-building projects in multiple instructional labs. The program is designed so students spend approximately half of the time learning in the classroom and half of the time applying what they’ve learned in the lab. You’ll learn everything from the basic wiring in the home to the workings of advanced computer systems that control the electricity in big factories.

The residential wiring lab, commercial wiring lab, electric motors lab and programmable logic controllers lab mimic real-world job sites, and you’ll need to wear the same sorts of safety equipment such as hard hats, and follow the same safety procedures that you will need to follow on the job. You’ll benefit from the knowledge of lab instructors and assistants who can support you to accomplish your goals safely and properly. The advantage of having specialized spaces for each type of learning is that you’ll learn the distinctive tips and tricks that apply to each kind of electrical work. For example, wiring up a wood-framed house is very different than wiring up a steel-framed industrial building.

Entrance Requirements, Costs and How to Apply

To apply, you must be at least 17 years old and hold a high school or general equivalency diploma. You must also complete an application and interview and pass an entrance exam. Admissions are rolling, meaning you can apply, test and enter your program year-round. This is advantageous to people who are considering a career change or who have other responsibilities.

To apply, first request information on the admissions page and you’ll be sent an application form. These are accepted year-round. Then you’ll be scheduled for your entrance exam and interview. You’ll need your identification documents, high school transcripts and financial information.

The total cost of tuition for the electrician program is currently $14,400. Books and equipment cost $1,720 and lab and other fees cost $2,100. This does not include your costs for rent, food, health insurance, transport and other living expenses. Most students get financial aid, such as federal and state student loans. Grants are often also available, and the program is eligible for grant programs for veterans and their dependents. The financial aid office has the expertise to help you find all the resources for which you might qualify.

More about Southern California Institute of Technology

The school, located in Anaheim, 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles (you can find more electrician programs in Los Angeles here), has a comprehensive array of student services, from academic support to mental health, and can refer students to outside experts if needed. Tutoring is available and free, and many courses have pre-set tutoring sessions planned well in advance. It also offers career placement assistance and has relationships with many employers in the region. The careers office can help you with skills like resume writing, interviewing and job hunting.

SCIT also has a variety of other programs in scientific and technical fields including associate and bachelor’s degrees in industrial, electronic and electrical engineering. Students in the electrician program may choose to progress to electrical engineering, which is a competitive and well-paid profession designing and maintaining very complex systems, such as those involved in the distribution of electric power across a city or region.