Electrical Technology
Program Description
AAS in Electrical Technology STEM Emphasis degree is no longer available to new students. Students considering a transfer pathway can choose the traditional AAS degree and complete an AGEC-A certificate to prepare to enter a university.
The Electrical Technology programs and certificates offered provide a mixture of academic classes with hands-on learning. It is the practical learning environment that enables students to learn the required skills in the classroom and then put those skills to use in a real-world environment.
Graduates of the electrical technology programs and certificates will:
- Gain knowledge and experience in residential construction with an emphasis on electrical technology.
- A basic understanding of electricity, control circuits and programmable logic controllers (PLC) architecture and programming.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge in the selection, installation, operation and maintenance of generators, including how to isolate and repair minor generator problems.
- Learn a wide range of electrical skills and gain industry-specific experience.
Employment for electricians is projected to grow 10% between 2018 and 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Homes and businesses continue to require wiring, and electricians will be needed to install the necessary components (Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 10, 2020). An average salary for electricians is $25.00 per hour.
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Career Outlook
Successful completion of this program can open doors to various employment opportunities, many of which require further higher education at the university level. Below are examples of related occupations and their annual mean wages in Arizona, based on career and wage data from Pipeline AZ, which utilizes government sources for its reports and forecasts.
Description
Install, repair, or adjust audio on television receivers, stereo systems, camcorders, video systems, or other electronic entertainment equipment in homes or other venues. May perform routine maintenance.
Duties/Tasks
- Disassemble entertainment equipment and repair or replace loose, worn, or defective components and wiring, using hand tools and soldering irons.
- Install, service, and repair electronic equipment or instruments such as televisions, radios, and videocassette recorders.
- Calibrate and test equipment, and locate circuit and component faults, using hand and power tools and measuring and testing instruments such as resistance meters and oscilloscopes.
- Confer with customers to determine the nature of problems or to explain repairs.
- Tune or adjust equipment and instruments to obtain optimum visual or auditory reception, according to specifications, manuals, and drawings.
- Instruct customers on the safe and proper use of equipment.
- Compute cost estimates for labor and materials.
- Read and interpret electronic circuit diagrams, function block diagrams, specifications, engineering drawings, and service manuals.
- Keep records of work orders and test and maintenance reports.
- Make service calls to repair units in customers' homes, or return units to shops for major repairs.
Salary Information (AZ)
$42,270
$36,370
$38,250
$59,430
$20.32
$17.49
$18.00
$28.57
Typical Education Level
Post Secondary Certificate
Description
Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
Duties/Tasks
- Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
- Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
- Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
- Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
- Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
- Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
- Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
- Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
- Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
Salary Information (AZ)
$41,870
$29,120
$45,810
$48,320
$20.13
$14.00
$22.00
$23.23
Typical Education Level
Post Secondary Certificate
Description
Assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment, such as computers, test equipment telemetering systems, electric motors, and batteries.
Duties/Tasks
- Read and interpret schematic drawings, diagrams, blueprints, specifications, work orders, or reports to determine materials requirements or assembly instructions.
- Assemble electrical or electronic systems or support structures and install components, units, subassemblies, wiring, or assembly casings, using rivets, bolts, soldering or micro-welding equipment.
- Adjust, repair, or replace electrical or electronic components to correct defects and to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Position, align, or adjust workpieces or electrical parts to facilitate wiring or assembly.
- Explain assembly procedures or techniques to other workers.
- Clean parts, using cleaning solutions, air hoses, and cloths.
- Drill or tap holes in specified equipment locations to mount control units or to provide openings for elements, wiring, or instruments.
- Inspect or test wiring installations, assemblies, or circuits for resistance factors or for operation, and record results.
- Mark and tag components so that stock inventory can be tracked and identified.
- Measure and adjust voltages to specified values to determine operational accuracy of instruments.
Typical Education Level
High School Diploma
Description
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
Duties/Tasks
- Test faulty equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test equipment or software, and applying knowledge of the functional operation of electronic units and systems.
- Maintain equipment logs that record performance problems, repairs, calibrations, or tests.
- Set up and test industrial equipment to ensure that it functions properly.
- Inspect components of industrial equipment for accurate assembly and installation or for defects, such as loose connections or frayed wires.
- Install repaired equipment in various settings, such as industrial or military establishments.
- Operate equipment to demonstrate proper use or to analyze malfunctions.
- Enter information into computer to copy program or to draw, modify, or store schematics, applying knowledge of software package used.
- Perform scheduled preventive maintenance tasks, such as checking, cleaning, or repairing equipment, to detect and prevent problems.
- Calibrate testing instruments and installed or repaired equipment to prescribed specifications.
- Repair or adjust equipment, machines, or defective components, replacing worn parts, such as gaskets or seals in watertight electrical equipment.
Salary Information (AZ)
$61,980
$37,960
$61,890
$85,530
$29.80
$18.25
$29.00
$41.12
Typical Education Level
Associates Degree
Description
Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
Duties/Tasks
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
- Connect wires to circuit breakers, transformers, or other components.
- Maintain current electrician's license or identification card to meet governmental regulations.
- Plan layout and installation of electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, based on job specifications and local codes.
- Direct or train workers to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Test electrical systems or continuity of circuits in electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures, using testing devices, such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or oscilloscopes, to ensure compatibility and safety of system.
Salary Information (AZ)
$51,300
$35,660
$48,200
$74,700
$24.66
$17.15
$23.00
$35.91
Typical Education Level
Post Secondary Certificate
Description
Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Duties/Tasks
- Direct operations, maintenance, or repair of hydroelectric power facilities.
- Identify and communicate power system emergencies.
- Maintain records of hydroelectric facility operations, maintenance, or repairs.
- Perform or direct preventive or corrective containment or cleanup to protect the environment.
- Monitor or inspect hydroelectric equipment, such as hydro-turbines, generators, or control systems.
- Inspect hydroelectric facilities, including switchyards, control houses, or relay houses, for normal operation or adherence to safety standards.
- Supervise or monitor hydroelectric facility operations to ensure that generation or mechanical equipment conform to applicable regulations or standards.
- Plan or coordinate hydroelectric production operations to meet customer requirements.
- Check hydroelectric operations for compliance with prescribed operating limits, such as loads, voltages, temperatures, lines, or equipment.
- Operate energized high- or low-voltage hydroelectric power transmission system substations, according to procedures and safety requirements.
Salary Information (AZ)
$124,170
$74,730
$117,580
$206,530
$59.70
$35.93
$56.00
$99.30
Typical Education Level
Post Secondary Certificate
Classroom/Lab Tour
This tour shows the front reception area as well as the primary classroom used for many electrical courses. Our classrooms are setup with flexibility in mind so that they can be completely re-arranged and used in many different ways.
This tour demonstrates a classroom that is primarily used for electrical courses. Note the many hands-on opportunities within this typical classroom.
Contact Information
Department Contact(s)
Career and Technical Education
Hours of Operation
- Normal Hours
- Monday - Thursday: 7:00am-5:00pm
Faculty/Staff Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herman Carroll | Professor of Electrical and Solar Technology | (928) 317-7623 | Herman.Carroll@azwestern.edu |