Hands-on Experience
Hands-on Experience | Electrical | Collegedale
Step onto the Collegedale jobsite and feel the buzz of live circuits, tool belts, and bright minds collaborating. HEP’s hands-on training lets you wire lighting layouts, bend conduit, and troubleshoot real service panels under the guidance of seasoned pros—all in a safe, purpose-built lab that mirrors the challenges of the field. You won’t just watch; you’ll strip, splice, and test your own connections, building confidence with every click of the breaker.
Beyond the wiring lab, you’ll tour active builds across Collegedale, shadowing technicians as they map out load calculations, interpret blueprints, and meet code inspections head-on. By the time you leave, “electrical” will mean more than theory; it will be a tangible skill set you can carry straight onto a crew, into an apprenticeship, or toward your next certification.
FAQs
What kind of hands-on activities can I expect in the Collegedale electrical experience?
Participants build, wire, and test real circuits from day one. You will pull cable, terminate outlets and switches, bend conduit, troubleshoot live control panels, and program basic PLC (programmable-logic controller) sequences. By the end of the course you will have constructed a functioning miniature residential and industrial electrical setup that meets the National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines.
Do I need prior electrical knowledge or certification to enroll?
No. The course is designed for beginners as well as career changers. We start with electrical theory, tool identification, and safety fundamentals before moving into more advanced labs. If you already have experience, you can test out of the introductory modules so you spend more time on complex tasks.
What safety measures are in place during lab sessions?
All labs are supervised by licensed master electricians at a 1:10 instructor-to-student ratio. Before touching any equipment, you complete an OSHA-10 safety orientation that covers lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment (PPE), proper ladder use, and shock prevention. The shop is outfitted with GFCI-protected outlets, insulated mats, fire-rated panels, and first-aid/eye-wash stations. Compliance checks are performed at the start and end of every class.
How long is the program and what is the weekly schedule?
The hands-on experience runs 12 weeks. Classes meet Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This hybrid schedule lets working adults maintain a day job while accumulating roughly 140 contact hours of lab and lecture.
Will I earn any certification or college credit upon completion?
Yes. Graduates receive a Collegedale Technical Training Certificate in Residential & Light Commercial Wiring, recognized by several regional employers. You also earn six articulated credit hours that can be transferred into the Electrical Technology A.A.S. program at partnering community colleges. In addition, the course prepares you to sit for the Tennessee Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) exam.
How much does the program cost and are there financial aid options?
Tuition is $2,495, which includes all lab materials, tool use, textbooks, and the OSHA-10 credentialing fee. A $200 discount is available for early registration, veterans, and current high-school CTE students. Payment plans are interest-free over four months, and qualifying students can apply Pell Grant funds or Tennessee Reconnect scholarships to cover the full amount.