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Construction Electrician

Overview Admissions Careers & Connections Tools & Supplies Courses & Costs

Overview

Are you ready for a highly technical and in-demand career as a construction electrician? Learn a wide range of skills from electrical safety and codes to more advanced skills in wiring and blueprint reading.

You will be connected to a lucrative career with this nine-month Construction Electrician program. With both classroom and shop components, this is one of Assiniboine’s most popular programs.

This entry-level program will take you from electrical safety and general code to advanced electrical skills in wiring and blueprint reading. Your industry-based practicum will emphasize practical applied learning, making you ready for real-world electrical problems you can solve.

You and your fellow graduates will build careers with electrical contractors, construction companies, maintenance departments of industrial companies, public utilities and wholesale suppliers.

Register as an apprentice within two years of finishing the program, and you may get in-school training credit for Level 1 Construction Electrician apprenticeship, Level 1 Industrial Electrician apprenticeship or Level 1 Power Electrician apprenticeship

 

Admissions

  • A complete Manitoba Grade 12 or equivalent

  • Consumer/Essential Mathematics 40S or equivalent

English is the language of instruction at Assiniboine. All applicants educated outside of Canada or in a country not on the test exempt list are expected to meet the English language proficiency requirement. See assiniboine.net/elp for more information. 

Careers & Connections

Careers

Graduates find employment opportunities with electrical contractors, construction companies, maintenance departments of industrial companies, public utilities and wholesale suppliers.

Connections

Students who successfully complete the accredited program with an accumulative average of 70% or better in the trade subjects and level for which the program was accredited, gain employment and register as an apprentice within two years of graduating, will receive credit for Level 1 in-school technical training and 900 hours in the Construction, Industrial or Power Electrician apprenticeship program.

Assiniboine has a number of agreements with other colleges, universities and professional organizations, making it possible to apply credit taken at Assiniboine to programs at other institutions. For up-to-date information on agreements, visit the Articulation Agreements page.

Tools & Supplies

Students in the Construction Electrician program benefit from various teaching techniques such as lecture, instructor hand out, presentations, assignments and hands-on projects. All instruction takes place either in the classroom or shop setting.

Textbooks, supplies and uniforms for all of our programs and courses may be purchased at the Assiniboine Bookstore at the Victoria Avenue East Campus. Booklists are available from your school office 30 days prior to the start date of your program. Visit the Bookstore website to learn more.

Our classrooms, labs and shops are equipped with the necessary equipment that you need to make the most of your experience. However, there are some tools and supplies that you will need to purchase for personal use to help you with your studies. Much of what you purchase you’ll be able to use after you graduate and begin your career. 

Students are advised not to purchase tools until the second week of school. The School of Trades holds a Tool Fair during this week where students meet with various suppliers and purchase tools at reduced costs. 

Courses & Costs

To graduate with a Construction Electrician certificate, students must successfully complete 63 academic credits and 5 practical credits. The minimum passing grade for each course is indicated on the course outline.

Tuition, fees and Students’ Association fees total approximately $4,900. Estimated cost for books and supplies is $1,640. All fees are estimated and subject to change without notice.

Courses
Title Credits/CEUs Elective Distance PLAR
AC Machines (ELEC-0017)

Prerequisite: ELEC-0022 Three-phase Theory
This course introduces design and theory of operation of transformers and AC motors. Students perform transformer calculations involving power, voltage, current, turns ratio and fault current. Single phase and three phase devices and single phase and three phase connections of transformers and motors are examined.

 6 credit(s) No No No
AC Theory Devices & Circuits (ELEC-0020)

Prerequisite: ELEC-0021 DC Theory Devices & Circuits
This course builds on the knowledge of DC circuits to incorporate alternating current generation and utilization. Students perform circuit calculations involving resistive, inductive and capacitive circuits and power factor correction. Common residential and commercial light devices are examined.

 6 credit(s) No No No
Blueprint Reading (ELECT) (DRFT-0009)

This course provides the fundamental skills necessary for students to become familiar with residential and commercial blueprints and the electrical trade.

 3 credit(s) No No No
Commercial Wiring (ELEC-0014)

Prerequisite: ELEC-0018 Residential & Premise Wiring
In this course students receive hands-on training that covers the installation of a variety of wiring methods including electrical metallic tubing, PVC conduit, ridged steel conduit, flexible metal conduit, liquid tight metal conduit, and armored cable (AC-90 and TECK-90). Motor control circuits include two- and three-wire circuits, motor starters, braking methods, programmable logic controllers and variable speed drives.

 9 credit(s) No No No
Communications (COMM-0045)

This course includes instruction in techniques to improve both written and oral communication with prospective employers, co-workers and clients. Effective strategies for customer service are emphasized. It also serves to familiarize students with the regulations related to the workplace. As well, students receive an introduction to the use of computer software and hands-on experience with Windows operating system, Internet and email.

 3 credit(s) No No No
DC Theory Devices & Circuits (ELEC-0021)

This course introduces basic electrical concepts devices and DC circuit analysis. Students perform circuit calculations involving two-and three-wire circuits and learn the correct use of meters in the electrical trade.

 6 credit(s) No No No
Electrical Code 1 (ELEC-0019)

This course covers the Canadian Electrical Code with an emphasis on applying the code to residential construction.

 6 credit(s) No No No
Electrical Code 2 (ELEC-0015)

Prerequisite: ELEC-0019 Electrical Code 1
Students learn the Canadian Electrical Code with an emphasis on applying the code to commercial and industrial construction.

 6 credit(s) No No No
Practicum 1 - ELEC (PRAC-0076)

Prerequisites: Cumulative weighted grade point average (CWGPA) of 2.0 or greater and ELEC-0020 AC Theory Devices & Circuits, ELEC-0019 Electrical Code 1, ELEC-0018 Residential & Premise Wiring.
Students spend approximately two weeks on the job to gain experience in a work environment. Credit is subject to the approval of the work experience by a designated faculty member. The student must submit evidence that the work has been successfully completed.

 2 credit(s) No No No
Practicum 2 - ELEC (PRAC-0077)

Prerequisites: Cumulative weighted grade point average (CWGPA) of 2.0 or greater and PRAC-0076 Practicum 1 - ELEC, ELEC-0015 Electrical Code 2, ELEC-0016 Solid State Theory & Diodes, ELEC-0014 Commercial Wiring.
Students spend approximately three weeks on the job to gain experience in an industrial environment. Credit is subject to approval of the work experience by a designated faculty member. The student must submit evidence that the work has been successfully completed.

 3 credit(s) No No No
Residential & Premise Wiring (ELEC-0018)

This hands-on course covers all aspects of wood frame residential wiring. Students rough wire a simulated dwelling unit using non-metallic sheathed cable and finish with standard receptacles, switches, lights and electric heaters. The project includes service equipment and grounding. All work is done in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code. Installation and termination of coaxial cable (RG6), installation, termination and testing of category three (telephone), category five (computer network) and multi-made, fiber-optic cable are also performed.

 12 credit(s) No No No
Solid State Theory and Diodes (ELEC-0016)

Prerequisite: ELEC-0022 Three-phase Theory
In this course, students learn theory of operation of semi-conductor devices, diodes, rectification zener diodes and SRCs. They perform calculations involving rectification and instantaneous voltages. Labs are performed to verify calculated results.

 3 credit(s) No No No
Three-phase Theory (ELEC-0022)

Prerequisite: ELEC-0020 AC Theory Devices & Circuits
In this course students learn theory covering three phase systems (generation and utilization), devices and circuits.

 3 credit(s) No No No

Fast Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next program information session?

Program information sessions are completely free to attend, and we invite you to bring a guest along as well. It's a good idea to register in advance so we know you're coming. 

To find the complete schedule for our program information sessions and to RSVP, visit the program information session page.