To rise up in the ranks in the electrical trade, electricians must never stop learning. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has changed the way many companies are conducting on-site training.

As electrical contractors search for the best ways to train their up-and-coming electricians through live and in-person training, here are some online resources to test their knowledge of the trade.

1. Online Quizzes. The Workplace Safety Awareness Council developed a library of PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and quizzes with support from a grant from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The materials are free of charge and available for use with an instructional or educational program.  The topics range from common electrical hazards to personal protective equipment (PPE). To see the full list of resources, visit the website.
2. Mobile Apps. Most on-the-go electrical apprentices are equipped with mobile devices. By downloading educational apps, they can brush up on their knowledge of the National Electrical Code® and prepare for the journeyman electrical exam. Some of these apps, like Electrical Code-a-Day, are free of charge.
3. How-to Videos. Aspiring electrical professionals can learn from journeymen and master electricians who post how-to videos on YouTube. For example, Dustin Stelzer has uploaded 87 videos documenting his journey as a young master electrician on his channel, Journey2Master.

These online resources can help those just starting out in the electrical trade. In addition, EC&M subscribers can check out EC&M’s Code Quizzes of the Week, which are offered by Mike Holt Enterprises in Leesburg, Fla. 

Fischbach is a freelance writer based in Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at [email protected].