Apprenticeship Program
Fully Accredited Four Year Apprenticeship
PA Registered
Emphasis on hand-on learning
Practical application of the NEC Code
Universal Academy offers a fully accredited and PA Registered four year apprenticeship training program. Using the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum as its base educational platform, Universal Academy offers a complete education which focuses not only on textbook knowledge, but also hands on learning with tools and equipment and interaction with product specialists for insight and training on all of today’s newest equipment and material. During our growth Universal Academy has made it a purpose to involve the likes of Klein, Ideal, Greenlee, Cadweld, ABB, Atlas, Keystone Lighting and more to further educate and inform our students to the trainings, materials and cutting edge equipment that is available to in our current work place. It is our belief that focusing on the details, understanding the NEC, and being dedicated to producing top electricians is the only way to further create a positive, safe and productive workforce and jobsite.
NCCER Mission & Vision
Our mission is to build a safe, productive and sustainable workforce of craft professionals.
Our vision is to be universally recognized by industry and government as the training, assessment, certification and career development standard for construction and maintenance craft professionals.
Core Values
The following principles have been ingrained into NCCER since our founding in 1996, and as we work toward achieving our mission and vision, NCCER will continue to apply these values in all of our activities.
- Integrity: to maintain the trust of the industry by always doing what is right
- Credibility: to be regarded as the most reliable source of workforce development resources for industry
- Innovation: to continuously improve our products, programs, and services to benefit the construction, maintenance, and pipeline industries
- Commitment: complete dedication to our stakeholders, our mission, and goals
- Quality: to provide the industry with the premier resources for workforce development
- Industry Support: to uphold and serve the interests of the construction industry and our customers in everything that we do
- Customer Focus: to devote our resources to serving the best interests of our stakeholders and craftworkers at all levels of development
- Sustainable Career Opportunities: to ensure that craftworkers understand their opportunities for advancement and growth at every step of career development
Electrical Level 1
a) Orientation to the Electrical Trade (2.5 Hours) Provides an overview of the electrical trade and discusses the career paths available to electricians.
b) Electrical Safety (10 Hours) Covers safety rules and regulations for electricians, including precautions for electrical hazards found on the job. Also covers the OSHA-mandated lockout/tagout procedure.
c) Introduction to Electrical Circuits (7.5 Hours) Introduces electrical concepts used in Ohm’s law applied to DC series circuits. Covers atomic theory, electromotive force, resistance, and electric power equations.
d) Electrical Theory (7.5 Hours) Introduces series, parallel, and series parallel circuits. Covers resistive circuits, Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws, and circuit analysis.
e) Introduction to the National Electrical Code® (7.5 Hours) Provides a road map for using the NEC®. Introduces the layout and the types of information found within the code book. Allows trainees to practice finding information using an easy-to-follow procedure.
f) Device Boxes (10 Hours) Covers the hardware and systems used by an electrician to mount and support boxes, receptacles, and other electrical components. Also covers NEC® fill and pull requirements for device, pull, and junction boxes under 100 cubic inches.
g) Hand Bending (10 Hours) Introduces conduit bending and installation. Covers the techniques for using hand-operated and step conduit benders, as well as cutting, reaming, and threading conduit.
h) Raceways and Fittings (20 Hours) Introduces the types and applications of raceways, wireways, and ducts. Stresses the applicable NEC® requirements.
i) Conductors and Cables (10 Hours) Focuses on the types and applications of conductors and covers proper wiring techniques. Stresses the applicable NEC® requirements.
j) Basic Electrical Construction Drawings (7.5 Hours) Describes electrical prints, drawings, and symbols, and the types of information that can be found on schematics, one-lines, and wiring diagrams.
k) Residential Electrical Services (15 Hours) Covers the electrical devices and wiring techniques common to residential construction and maintenance. Allows trainees to practice making service calculations. Stresses the applicable NEC® requirements.
l) Electrical Test Equipment (5 Hours) Covers proper selection, inspection, and use of common electrical test equipment, including voltage testers, clamp-on ammeters, ohmmeters, multimeters, phase/motor rotation testers, and data recording equipment. Also covers safety precautions and meter category ratings.
Electrical Level 2
a) Alternating Current (17.5 Hours) Describes forces that are characteristic of alternating-current systems and the application of Ohm’s law to AC circuits.
b) Motors: Theory and Application (20 Hours) Covers AC and DC motors, including the main components, circuits, and connections.
c) Electric Lighting (15 Hours) Introduces principles of human vision and the characteristics of light. Focuses on the handling and installation of various types of lamps and lighting fixtures.
d) Conduit Bending (15 Hours) Covers bends in conduit up to 6 inches. Focuses on mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical benders.
e) Pull and Junction Boxes (12.5 Hours) Explains how to select and size pull boxes, junction boxes, and handholes.
f) Conductor Installations (10 Hours) Covers the transportation, storage, and setup of cable reels; methods of rigging; and procedures for complete cable pulls in raceways and cable trays.
g) Cable Tray (7.5 Hours) Focuses on NEC® installation requirements for cable tray, including cable installations.
h) Conductor Terminations and Splices (7.5 Hours) Describes methods of terminating and splicing conductors, including preparing and taping conductors.
i) Grounding and Bonding (15 Hours) Focuses on the purpose of grounding and bonding electrical systems. Thoroughly covers NEC® requirements.
j) Circuit Breakers and Fuses (12.5 Hours) Describes fuses and circuit breakers along with their practical applications. Also covers sizing.
k) Control Systems and Fundamental Concepts (12.5 Hours) Gives basic descriptions of various types of contactors and relays along with their practical applications
Electrical Level 3
a) Conductor Selection and Calculations (15 Hours) Covers the factors involved in conductor selection, including insulation types, current-carrying capacity, temperature ratings, and voltage drop.
b) Practical Applications of Lighting (12.5 Hours) Describes specific types of incandescent, fluorescent, and HID lamps, as well as ballasts. Also covers troubleshooting and various types of lighting controls.
c) Hazardous Locations (15 Hours) Presents the NEC® requirements for equipment installed in hazardous locations.
d) Overcurrent Protection (25 Hours) Explains how to size and select circuit breakers and fuses for various applications. Also covers short circuit calculations and troubleshooting.
e) Distribution Equipment (12.5 Hours) Discusses switchboards and switchgear, including installation, grounding, and maintenance requirements. Includes a set of drawings.
f) Transformers (12.5 Hours) Discusses transformer types, construction, connections, protection, and grounding.
g) Commercial Electrical Services (10 Hours) Covers the components, installation considerations, and NEC® requirements for commercial services.
h) Motor Calculations (12.5 Hours) Covers calculations required to size conductors and overcurrent protection for motor applications.
i) Voice, Data, and Video (10 Hours) Covers installation, termination, and testing of voice, data, and video cabling systems.
j) Motor Controls (12.5 Hours) Provides information on selecting, sizing, and installing motor controllers. Also covers control circuit pilot devices and basic relay logic.
Electrical Level 4
a) Load Calculations – Feeders and Services (20 Hours) Topics include basic calculation procedures for commercial and residential applications.
b) Health Care Facilities (10 Hours) Covers the installation of electric circuits in health care facilities, including the requirements for life safety and critical circuits.
c) Standby and Emergency Systems (10 Hours) Explains the NEC® requirements for electric generators and storage batteries.
d) Basic Electronic Theory (10 Hours) Explains the function and operation of basic electronic devices, including semiconductors, diodes, rectifiers, and transistors.
e) Fire Alarm Systems (15 Hours) Covers fire alarm control units, Digital Alarm Communicator Systems (DACS), wiring for alarm initiating and notification devices, and alarm system maintenance.
f) Specialty Transformers (10 Hours) Covers various types of transformers and their applications. Also provides information on selecting, sizing, and installing these devices.
g) Advanced Controls (20 Hours) Discusses applications and operating principles of solid-state controls, reduced-voltage starters, and adjustable frequency drives. Also covers basic troubleshooting procedures.
h) HVAC Controls (15 Hours) Provides a basic overview of HVAC systems and their controls. Also covers electrical troubleshooting and NEC® requirements.
i) Heat Tracing and Freeze Protection (10 Hours) Covers heat tracing systems along with their applications and installation requirements.
j) Motor Operation and Maintenance (10 Hours) Covers motor cleaning, testing, and preventive maintenance. Also describes basic troubleshooting procedures.
k) Medium-Voltage Terminations/Splices (10 Hours) Offers an overview of the NEC® and cable manufacturers’ requirements for medium-voltage terminations and splices.
l) Special Locations (20 Hours) Describes NEC® requirements for selecting and installing equipment, enclosures, and devices in special locations including places of assembly, theaters, carnivals, agricultural buildings, marinas, temporary installations, wired partitions, and swimming pools.
m) Fundamentals of Crew Leadership (20 Hours)
Managing Electrical Hazards Trainee Guide
a) This module introduces electrical hazards in the workplace and describes how to avoid electrical hazards and how to analyze and document shock and arc flash hazards; and how to plan and conduct work around them. Includes examples of how to complete an energized electrical work permit, and how to select the specialized personal protective equipment required for electrical work.
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP
