Academic Catalog

Apprenticeship - Inside Wireman (formerly General Electrician)

Program Description

The Inside Wireman program consists of a comprehensive course of study necessary for career success as an Inside Wireman. This program is intended to meet the "whole program status" as required by the Department of Apprenticeship Standards. Graduates will have acquired the knowledge and skills needed to function as an Inside Wireman, including foundation sciences, mathematics, safety, plan and code reading, as well as necessary job based skills. Upon completion of required work experience and hours, graduates will be qualified to take the State certification examination and work as an Inside Wireman. Career opportunities for a qualified Inside Wireman in the constructions trades are very diverse. Depending on the student's career interest and courses taken, graduates find employment as an Inside Wireman in commercial, industrial, and residential areas, voice data video technicians, fire/life safety technicians, or non-residential lighting technicians.

The Residential Wireman program is offered in partnership with Santa Clara County Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. This 3-year apprenticeship program provides students with paid on-the-job training and in-class instruction with no tuition fee. The students will learn how to install and connect electrical systems in homes, condos, and apartments, and how to maintain basic electrical and power distribution systems within a residential environment.

Learn more about the program on the Apprenticeship website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students gain hands-on experience as they work on electrical systems and component wiring to include: power distribution systems, electrical panels, wiring, conduit, piping, test equipment, transformers, motors, grounding, over-current protection, security, solar, and home automation systems. These specialized skills are acquired through on-the-job training and classroom instruction and lead to employment in the construction and service industry. After five years of classroom and work experience, students who pass the state license exam are recognized as journeypersons in the electrical trades industry.

Residential Wireman students will be able to identify the tools and the materials used in residential wiring, to calculate values using Ohm's Law in D/C series, parallel, and combination circuits, to identify architectural and mechanical symbols on residential drawings, and to read and analyze blueprints, diagram structured wiring systems.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of all course requirements and 8,000 hours of related work experience for Inside Wireman, graduates will be eligible for the State certified Electrician Examination. Depending on the student's career interest and courses taken, graduates find employment as an Inside Wireman in commercial, industrial, and residential areas, voice data video technicians, fire/life safety technicians, solar and photovoltaic installers, and non-residential lighting technicians.

Upon completion of all course requirements and 4000 hours for Residential Wireman, graduates will be eligible for the State Electrician certification and will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement in Residential Wireman from Foothill College and an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS). Depending on the student's career interest, graduates find employment as residential electrician, foreman, contractor, and educator.

Award Type(s)

  • AS = Associate in Science Degree
  • CA = Certificate of Achievement

Units Required

  • Major: 40-71.5
  • Certificate(s): 18-71.5

Associate Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:

  • Core courses for the major (40-71.5 units total)
  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
    • Foothill College General Education
    • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)2
    • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2
    • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3
1

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

2

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

3

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.


Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core courses used for the degree or certificates. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Pathway 1 - Local 332 students:40
ORIENTATION TO THE ELECTRICAL TRADE
ELECTRON THEORY; BASIC BLUEPRINT READING; DC THEORY; NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE INTRODUCTION
CODEOLOGY; TEST EQUIPMENT; PIPE BENDING; BLUEPRINTS
AC THEORY; TRANSFORMERS; INTERMEDIATE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
DC/AC THEORY REVIEW; ELECTRONICS; INDUSTRIAL BLUEPRINTS
NEC GROUNDING; OVERCURRENT PROTECTION; TRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS
MOTORS; MOTOR CONTROL; LIGHTING PROTECTION
DIGITAL ELECTRONICS; MOTOR SPEED CONTROL; ADVANCED NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS; LOW-VOLTAGE SYSTEMS & HIGH-VOLTAGE SYSTEMS
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE REVIEW
Pathway 2 - Local 332 students:42
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION; TELEPHONE SYSTEMS
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: BASIC SECURITY, SOLAR POWER, HOME AUTOMATION & LIFE SAFETY
DC/AC THEORY REVIEW; ELECTRONICS; INDUSTRIAL BLUEPRINTS
NEC GROUNDING; OVERCURRENT PROTECTION; TRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS
MOTORS; MOTOR CONTROL; LIGHTING PROTECTION
DIGITAL ELECTRONICS; MOTOR SPEED CONTROL; ADVANCED NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS; LOW-VOLTAGE SYSTEMS & HIGH-VOLTAGE SYSTEMS
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE REVIEW
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL ORIENTATION; SAFETY & CODE INTRODUCTION
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL D/C THEORY; BLUEPRINT READING
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL A/C THEORY & CIRCUITRY
RESIDENTIAL WIRING LAYOUT & INSTALLATION
Pathway 3 - Local 6 students:71.5
ORIENTATION TO THE ELECTRICAL TRADE, CPR, FIRST AID & OSHA 10
DC THEORY, NEC, INTRODUCTION TO CONDUIT BENDING, BASIC SWITCHING & WIRING METHODS
DC THEORY, AC ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, NEC NAVIGATION, PRINT READING, INTRO TO BASIC ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
AC THEORY, INTERMEDIATE CONDUIT, PRINT READING, TEST INSTRUMENTS, NEC APPLICATION
GROUNDING & BONDING, CODE & PRACTICES, BLUEPRINTS, ADVANCED CONDUIT BENDING
DC/AC SYSTEMS & THEORY REVIEW, TRANSFORMERS, PRINT READING, INTERMEDIATE CIRCUITS & CONDUIT
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, PUBLIC EMERGENCY SYSTEMS
OVERCURRENT DEVICES, NFPA 70E: ELECTRICAL SAFETY, INTRO TO RELAYS & CONTROLS, PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
ADVANCED MOTOR CONTROLS, VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES, PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLS
NEC REVIEW, ELECTRIC VEHICLE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS, ADVANCED LIGHTING CONTROLS
OSHA 30, HVAC CONTROLS, ESTIMATING, FOREMAN DEVELOPMENT
Total Units40-71.5

Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Achievement in Inside Wireman

  • Units: 40-71.5

The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core courses. General education courses are not required.

Currently offered at: San Francisco and San Jose.

Certificate of Achievement in Residential Wireman

  • Units: 18
APEL 112RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION; TELEPHONE SYSTEMS3
APEL 113RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: BASIC SECURITY, SOLAR POWER, HOME AUTOMATION & LIFE SAFETY3
APEL 135RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL ORIENTATION; SAFETY & CODE INTRODUCTION3
APEL 136RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL D/C THEORY; BLUEPRINT READING3
APEL 137RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL A/C THEORY & CIRCUITRY3
APEL 138RESIDENTIAL WIRING LAYOUT & INSTALLATION3
Total Units18


Currently offered at: San Jose.