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Home Catalog Programs of Study List of Programs Electrician Trainee Program

Electrician Trainee Program

Overview

This program provides instruction in the installation, operation, and maintenance of residential and commercial electrical distribution systems. Topics include safety training, AC/DC electrical theory, metering, electronics, use of electrical codes, raceways, conductors, grounding, motors, transformers, fire alarm systems, fiber optics, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. It complies with state regulations to become an electrician trainee – see the California Department of Industrial Relations' electrician trainee guide. Upon completion of the program, students may find employment in the following industry sectors: government, residential and commercial construction and maintenance, utilities, and facilities management.

Certificates Offered

  • Residential/Commercial Electrician Trainee Certificate

Certificate of Achievement

Residential/Commercial Electrician Trainee Certificate

This program provides instruction in the installation, operation, and maintenance of the electrical distribution systems in residential and commercial sites. Topics include safety training, AC/DC electrical theory, metering, electronics, use of electrical codes, raceways, conductors, grounding, motors, transformers, fire alarm systems, fiber optics, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. It complies with state regulations to become an electrician trainee.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Certificate Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
ELTRN 110 Electrician Trainee I 4
ELTRN 111 Electrician Trainee II 4
ELTRN 120 Electrician Trainee III 4
ELTRN 121 Electrician Trainee IV 4
ELTRN 130 Electrician Trainee V 4
ELTRN 131 Electrician Trainee VI 4
ELTRN 180 Electrical Workers State Certification Preparation 4.5
Total Units: 28.5

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • apply residential and commercial safety procedures on job-sites.
  • analyze, interpret, and apply national, state, and local electrical codes.
  • apply electrical mathematics in calculating AC/DC series, parallel, and combination circuits.
  • identify different wiring methods for conductors, cables, and conduits.
  • analyze functions of blueprints, specifications, schedules, addenda, and revisions in construction.
  • describe the function, operation, and characteristics of a system and individual components of the system such as burglar alarms, fire alarms, information transport, HVAC, etc.

Career Information

Upon completion of the Residential/Commercial Electrician Trainee program, students may find employment in the following industry sectors: government, residential and commercial construction and maintenance, utilities, and facilities management.

Electrician Trainee (ELTRN) Courses

ELTRN 110 Electrician Trainee I

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is an introduction to the Commercial/Residential Electrician Trainee Program. It includes safety procedures, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements, basic rigging, basic electrical mathematics, Ohm's Law, Direct Current (DC) theory, and construction related CPR and First Aid. This course meets the State of California requirement to obtain an electrician trainee license. This course was previously known as ELECT 210.

ELTRN 110 Electrician Trainee I

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is an introduction to the Commercial/Residential Electrician Trainee Program. It includes safety procedures, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements, basic rigging, basic electrical mathematics, Ohm's Law, Direct Current (DC) theory, and construction related CPR and First Aid. This course meets the State of California requirement to obtain an electrician trainee license. This course was previously known as ELECT 210.

ELTRN 111 Electrician Trainee II

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ELTRN 110 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course covers Alternating Current (AC) theory, including AC and Direct Current (DC) generation, phase, and circuit mathematical calculations. It also covers the use of meters in different applications of alternating current, and provides a basic introduction to electronics and application of the National Electrical Code (NEC) to jobsite electrical installations. This course meets the State of California requirement to obtain an electrician trainee license. This course was formerly known as ELECT 211.

ELTRN 120 Electrician Trainee III

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ELTRN 111 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the third course of the Commercial/Residential Electrician Trainee Program. Topics include conductors, cables, conduits, lighting systems, panelboard, switchboard, and overcurrent devices for residential and commercial installations. This course also covers reading blueprint drawings, making sketches, drawing architectural views, and identifying common blueprint scales and electrical symbols. This course as formerly known as ELECT 220.

ELTRN 121 Electrician Trainee IV

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ELTRN 111 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the fourth course required for the Commercial/Residential Electrician Trainee Program. Topics include electrical grounding systems and lightning protection systems. It also includes jobsite personnel development and jobsite management. This course was formerly known as ELECT 221.

ELTRN 130 Electrician Trainee V

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ELTRN 111 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the fifth course required for the Commercial/Residential Electrician Trainee Program. Topics include fundamentals of motors, motor controllers, process controllers, generators, and transformers. Topics also include testing of cables, generators, and motors. This course meets the State of California requirement to obtain an electrician trainee license. This course was formerly known as ELECT 230.

ELTRN 131 Electrician Trainee VI

  • Units:4
  • Hours:63 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ELTRN 111 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the sixth course required for the Commercial/Residential Electrician Trainee Program. Topics include fire alarm systems, burglar alarm systems, and information transport systems (ITS). This course also covers basic electrical requirements for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. It meets the State of California requirement to obtain an electrician trainee license. This course was formerly known as ELECT 231.

ELTRN 180 Electrical Workers State Certification Preparation

  • Units:4.5
  • Hours:81 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:ELTRN 111 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is a preparatory course for the Electricians' State Licensing Certification for California. It reviews basic electrical formulas and provides an in-depth review of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and safety. This course was formerly known as ELECT 280.

ELTRN 295 Independent Study for the Electrician Trainee Program

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog allowing students to gain college credit while learning in-the-field.

ELTRN 298 Work Experience for Electrician Trainee

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Enrollment Limitation:Enrolled in the American River College Electrician Trainee Program.
  • General Education:Local GE L7B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides students the opportunity to work in the American River College Electrician Trainee Program to develop specific skills to meet the goals and objectives of the Division of Industrial Relations General Electrician Trainee Program. Students complete work experience hours at an approved training sites. During the semester, the student is required to complete 27 hours of related work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units. Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be repeated when there are new or expanded learning objectives. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.

Catalog