Electrical theory
- Voltage, current, resistance and power
- Ohm’s Law and Watt’s Law
- Series and parallel circuits
- AC and DC fundamentals
APPRENTICE STUDY CENTER
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Build the trade
one year at a time.
Open study guides for all five apprenticeship years, covering the theory, code knowledge, calculations, safety, and field skills commonly developed during an electrical apprenticeship.
Foundation & safe work habits
Learn the language of the trade and build dependable fundamentals.
Tools & materials
- Hand and power-tool identification
- Boxes, raceways, fittings and conductors
- Wire types, insulation and color identification
- Careful measuring and layout
Safety
- PPE and hazard recognition
- Lockout/tagout awareness
- Ladder and scaffold basics
- Test-before-touch principles
Code navigation
- How the NEC is organized
- Definitions and general requirements
- Reading tables and informational notes
- Finding—not memorizing—rules
First-year review questions
- What current flows through a 12-ohm resistance connected to 120 volts?
- How do series and parallel circuits differ?
- What must happen before beginning de-energized work?
- Where would you start when looking up an unfamiliar NEC term?
Branch circuits & installations
Turn fundamentals into clean, code-aware installation skills.
Wiring methods
- EMT, rigid, PVC, MC and cable systems
- Raceway support and protection
- Conductor pulling and termination
- Wet, damp and hazardous locations
Conduit bending
- Stub 90s, offsets and saddles
- Gain, shrink and take-up
- Rolling offsets and bend orientation
- Planning multi-bend runs
Boxes & conductors
- Box-fill calculations
- Conduit-fill calculations
- Ampacity and temperature limitations
- Grounding and bonding basics
Controls
- Single-pole, 3-way and 4-way switching
- Receptacle and lighting circuits
- GFCI and AFCI purpose
- Reading elementary diagrams
Second-year review questions
- What information is needed before calculating box fill?
- How does a 30-degree offset multiplier affect bend spacing?
- Why can terminal temperature ratings affect conductor ampacity?
- Describe the current path in a 3-way lighting circuit.
Motors, transformers & distribution
Study the equipment that moves and transforms electrical power.
Motors
- Motor theory and nameplates
- Branch conductors and overload protection
- Short-circuit and ground-fault protection
- Starters, contactors and control circuits
Transformers
- Turns ratio and primary/secondary values
- Single- and three-phase calculations
- Overcurrent protection concepts
- Separately derived systems
Power systems
- Single-phase and three-phase systems
- Wye and delta relationships
- Panelboards, feeders and services
- Voltage drop and load planning
Motor controls
- Two- and three-wire control
- Seal-in and interlock circuits
- Timers, relays and pilot devices
- Systematic control troubleshooting
Third-year review questions
- Why are motor conductors, overloads and branch-circuit protection calculated differently?
- How do you find secondary current from transformer kVA and voltage?
- What is the phase-to-line voltage relationship in a grounded wye system?
- What does a seal-in contact do in a motor-control circuit?
Advanced systems & specialty work
Connect power, communications, life safety, and automation systems.
Grounding & bonding
- Grounded versus grounding conductors
- Equipment bonding paths
- Grounding electrode systems
- Services and separately derived systems
Special systems
- Fire alarm fundamentals
- Emergency and standby systems
- Structured cabling and signaling
- Healthcare and hazardous locations
Automation
- Sensors and output devices
- PLC hardware and ladder logic
- Variable-frequency drives
- Process and building controls
Plans & estimating
- Blueprints, specifications and schedules
- One-lines and riser diagrams
- Material takeoffs and labor planning
- Coordination and change documentation
Fourth-year review questions
- What is the purpose of an effective ground-fault current path?
- How do emergency and optional standby systems differ?
- What are the basic parts of a PLC input–logic–output sequence?
- Which project documents should be checked before estimating material?
Leadership, testing & journeyman readiness
Bring theory and field experience together for responsible decision-making.
Testing & troubleshooting
- Safe meter selection and use
- Divide-and-conquer diagnostics
- Insulation, continuity and voltage tests
- Documenting causes and corrections
Code calculations
- Dwelling and non-dwelling loads
- Services, feeders and demand factors
- Motors, transformers and capacitors
- Voltage drop and fault-current awareness
Leadership
- Planning safe daily work
- Layout, crew communication and mentoring
- Quality control and inspections
- Professional responsibility
Exam preparation
- Timed code-book navigation
- Formula and calculation practice
- Reading every question carefully
- Reviewing weak areas by topic
Fifth-year review questions
- What is your safe sequence for troubleshooting an unknown circuit?
- Which inputs are required for a service-load calculation?
- How should a foreman communicate changes that affect scope or safety?
- What code-book search strategy saves the most time on an exam?
KEEP STUDYING
Use WireWise with your coursework
Practice calculations, review field guides, or ask the AI Assistant to explain a concept in plain language. Always compare the answer with your assigned materials and instructor guidance.