Choose this program to prepare for an exciting career as an electrician. Students become registered "electrician trainees" with the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries and are awarded work experience hours upon completion. Occupational choices are extensive in the field; many graduates work in the construction industry, while others work in manufacturing or maintenance.
In BTC’s Electrician program, you’ll learn how to install, maintain, and repair residential, commercial, industrial and renewable electrical systems. You will also learn how to read blueprints and schematics, bend and install conduits, program VFDs and PLCs, and troubleshoot circuits.
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
73% BTC graduate placement rate1
$58,068 starting annual wage2
$76,119 average annual wage2
$98,904 potential annual wage2
New, 1st Year Students will be accepted for the spring quarter of 2024. This is a first-come, first-served registration. Please contact the Registration-Enrollment-Admissions at 360.752.8345 or ProgramInterest@btc.edu if you have questions or concerns.
Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.
Graduates can be credited with up to 1472 supervised work experience hours per RCW 19.28.191 and WAC 296-46b-940. In order to receive the approved experience hours students must have an electrical trainee card from L&I. You will be expected to purchase this trainee card on the first day of the program. Please do not purchase this card prior to your starting date!
Electricians deal with color coded wires on a daily basis, making it vital for all electricians to be able to see color.
AMATH 100 | Applied Occupational Math | 5 CR |
ELCN 100 | Trade Safety | 2 CR |
ELCN 101 | DC Circuits | 4 CR |
ELCN 103 | Electrical Drawings & Blueprints | 2 CR |
ELCN 125 | Electrical Applied Mechanics | 4 CR |
ELCN 131 | DC Circuit Lab | 4 CR |
CMST& 210 | Interpersonal Communication | 5 CR |
OR |
PSYC& 100 | General Psychology | 5 CR |
OR |
SOC& 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 5 CR |
ELCN 102 | AC Circuits | 3 CR |
ELCN 112 | Introduction to National Electrical Code | 4 CR |
ELCN 132 | AC Circuit Lab | 3 CR |
ELCN 142 | Residential Wiring Projects | 6 CR |
AENGL 100 | Applied English | 5 CR |
ELCN 104 | Grounding & Bonding | 2 CR |
ELCN 105 | Transformers, Motors & Generators | 4 CR |
ELCN 113 | Advanced NEC Calculations | 3 CR |
ELCN 143 | Electrical Distribution | 3 CR |
ELCN 151 | Commercial Wiring Methods & Materials | 5 CR |
ELCN 201 | Electronics for Electricians | 2 CR |
ELCN 202 | Machine Control Fundamentals | 5 CR |
ELCN 251 | Commercial & Renewable Energy Projects | 5 CR |
ELCN 261 | Industrial Control Wiring Methods & Materials | 6 CR |
ELCN 280 | Renewable Electrical Sources | 4 CR |
ELCN 203 | PLCs & VFDs | 5 CR |
ELCN 214 | Special Occupancies, Equipment & Conditions | 3 CR |
ELCN 262 | Specialty Industrial Wiring Projects | 5 CR |
ELCN 263 | Automated Control Projects | 6 CR |
ELCN 281 | Electrical Estimating & Design | 3 CR |
After successfully completing the AAS degree, students will be able to:
Employment of electricians is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities for skilled electricians are expected to be very good as the growth in demand outpaces the supply of workers trained in this industry. There is expected to be a shortage of skilled workers during the next decade because of the anticipated smaller pool of young workers entering training programs.
About 84% of BTC Electrician students are employed within nine months of graduation. The average annual wage in this field is $62,962, with an earning potential of about $85,805 per year.*
Criminal convictions may restrict or prevent student participation with internships and employment in this industry.
Most program graduates work as electricians. In the United States, more than half of all electricians are employed in the construction industry. Others work as maintenance electricians in virtually every industry including electrical equipment distributors, communications companies, electrical utility companies and industrial manufacturing plants.
Potential positions include apprentice electrician, journeyman electrician, electrical contractor, electrical equipment technician, maintenance electrician, television cable technician, utility company technician, telephone technician and electrical equipment salesperson. Nationally, one out of every ten electricians is self-employed.
If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.
Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email IndustrialTradesNav@btc.edu