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: 49-71.5
- 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 (49-71.5 units total)
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
- Foothill College General Education
- California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)2
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
- 2
Cal-GETC began in Fall Quarter 2025. Students with catalog rights for Summer Session 2025 and previous catalog years may be able to use IGETC or CSU GE Breadth. 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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Pathway 1 - Local 332 students: | 55.5 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO THE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, MATERIAL & TOOL I.D., ELECTRICAL DEVICES | ||
| BASIC CIRCUIT CALCULATIONS; BASIC BLUEPRINT READING; DC THEORY; NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE INTRO | ||
| AC THEORY, CODES & PRACTICES, IBEW ORIENTATION, BLUEPRINT READING | ||
| 3-PHASE AC, TRANSFORMERS, INTERMEDIATE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE | ||
| LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS & BLUEPRINT READING | ||
| TRANSFORMERS, GROUNDING & BONDING; OVERCURRENT PROTECTIVE DEVICES | ||
| MOTORS; MOTOR CONTROL; RELAYS & RELAY LOGIC | ||
| FIRE ALARM LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS ADV/LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS ADV/RACEWAY & CONDUCTOR SIZING/FILL | ||
| NEC STUDY & CALIFORNIA STATE CERTIFICATION PREPARATION, BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, NFPA 70E | ||
| SKILLS ASSESSMENT, FOREMAN DEVELOPMENT, RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, HCAI/OSHPD, POWER QUALITY ANALYSIS | ||
| Pathway 2 - Local 332 students: | 49 | |
| RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION; TELEPHONE SYSTEMS | ||
| RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: BASIC SECURITY, SOLAR POWER, HOME AUTOMATION & LIFE SAFETY | ||
| LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS & BLUEPRINT READING | ||
| TRANSFORMERS, GROUNDING & BONDING; OVERCURRENT PROTECTIVE DEVICES | ||
| MOTORS; MOTOR CONTROL; RELAYS & RELAY LOGIC | ||
| FIRE ALARM LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS ADV/LIGHTING CONTROLS SYSTEMS ADV/RACEWAY & CONDUCTOR SIZING/FILL | ||
| NEC STUDY & CALIFORNIA STATE CERTIFICATION PREPARATION, BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, NFPA 70E | ||
| SKILLS ASSESSMENT, FOREMAN DEVELOPMENT, RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, HCAI/OSHPD, POWER QUALITY ANALYSIS | ||
| 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 Units | 49-71.5 | |
elective course
This course is recommended to fulfill the additional elective requirements to reach 90 units for the degree as it augments the major:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CWE 60A | OCCUPATIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE: APPRENTICE | 10.5 |
Note: Additionally, students who complete the core courses for Pathway 3 (Local 6 students) will satisfy Foothill GE Area 5, Natural Sciences (with Laboratory).
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Inside Wireman
- Units: 49-71.5
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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| APEL 112 | RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION; TELEPHONE SYSTEMS | 3 |
| APEL 113 | RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: BASIC SECURITY, SOLAR POWER, HOME AUTOMATION & LIFE SAFETY | 3 |
| APEL 135 | RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL ORIENTATION; SAFETY & CODE INTRODUCTION | 3 |
| APEL 136 | RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL D/C THEORY; BLUEPRINT READING | 3 |
| APEL 137 | RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL A/C THEORY & CIRCUITRY | 3 |
| APEL 138 | RESIDENTIAL WIRING LAYOUT & INSTALLATION | 3 |
| Total Units | 18 | |
Currently offered at: San Jose.