Electrical Technician

Lamson’s Electrical Technician diploma program provides the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to work in the electrical trade, with training in residential, commercial and industrial electrical work. Students learn electrical theory, National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements, blueprint reading, residential and commercial wiring methods, conduit bending and installation, and motor controls.

The program is six 6-week modules totaling 720 clock hours, and at least half of it — 360 of 720 hours — is spent in the lab, where students take an active role in actually wiring residential and commercial electrical installations. Graduates earn a Diploma and are prepared for entry-level employment as a residential, commercial or industrial electrical helper; they will still need to meet Texas licensing requirements to become a licensed electrician. Upon graduation, Lamson gives each student their own toolkit to keep.

Lamson Institute has provided hands-on career training in Northwest San Antonio since August 2007, as a branch campus of the Institute for Business and Technology, which was founded in 1965. The school’s mission is to prepare students for career-focused employment by delivering relevant career training, and its curriculum is reviewed regularly by industry professionals.

• Programs can be completed in as few as 9 to 11 months, with morning and evening classes.
• The campus occupies approximately 55,000 square feet in the Exchange Plaza at N.W. Loop 410 and Bandera Road, with classrooms, lecture rooms, a learning resource center, computer labs, medical labs and specialized instructional areas.
• Small classes: traditional class size is up to 30 students, the maximum student-teacher ratio in a laboratory class is 20 to 1, and computer labs have one-to-one equipment.
• USA TODAY, with research firm Statista, named Lamson Institute one of America’s Top Vocational Schools for 2026.
• Graduates may retake any course they have completed at no charge, apart from books and supplies, when space is available.

To be eligible for enrollment at Lamson Institute, applicants must:

• Have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent, such as a GED or HiSET certificate, a foreign secondary credential with a third-party evaluation, a qualifying college transcript, or a homeschool credential.
• Be at least 18, or 17 with written parent or guardian approval and turning 18 before their expected graduation date or before beginning any externship, whichever comes first.
• Take and pass the EduReady Admissions Assessment with a minimum score of 75 (two re-tests with an alternate form are allowed). This is waived for applicants with an associate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. school.
• Visit and tour the school and complete a personal interview with an admissions representative.
• Show a valid Social Security card and a valid government-issued photo ID or driver’s license.
• Complete an enrollment agreement, attend a financial aid interview if appropriate, and pay the one-time registration fee.

Students enrolling in the Electrical Technician and Commercial Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning programs must provide evidence of a valid, current driver’s license, because employers in these fields require one. Dental Assisting applicants must also pass a criminal background check and fingerprinting/drug screening and provide a signed order for x-rays (18 fmx/pano) from their dentist.

The program runs in 6-week modules, with day or evening classes of 5 hours per day, Monday through Thursday: mornings 8:00 am – 1:00 pm or evenings 5:45 pm – 10:45 pm. The expected minimum completion time is 36 weeks.

2026 start dates (and graduation dates): January 12 (September 17, 2026); February 23 (October 29, 2026); April 6 (December 10, 2026); May 18 (February 4, 2027); June 29 (March 18, 2027); August 10 (April 29, 2027); September 21 (June 10, 2027); November 2 (July 22, 2027); December 14 (September 2, 2027).

The school is closed on Memorial Day, July 3, Labor Day, Veterans Day (November 11), November 26–27 for Thanksgiving, and December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 for winter break.

Program costs (starts on or after February 1, 2026): tuition $16,951; registration fee $50; books $446; uniforms $200; total $17,647. Students may opt out of buying their books from the school. Tuition is guaranteed for the term of your enrollment.

Financial aid. Lamson is approved to participate in federal Title IV programs for students who qualify: the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans for parents. Apply by completing the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov. Institutional payment plans are available for charges not met by aid, Climb Credit offers third-party financing, and the school can bill employers, workforce agencies or the VA for eligible students.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level employment as residential, commercial or industrial electrical helpers. Example entry-level job titles include entry-level Residential, Commercial and Industrial Electrician, Electrical Helper, Maintenance Electrician, Lighting Technician, Electrical Inspector, Cost Estimator, Meter Reader and Building Electrical Maintenance Technician. The program prepares students to pursue registration as an Electrical Apprentice with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR); graduates still need to meet TDLR’s requirements, including supervised work experience, to advance toward licensure.

Outcomes. In the 2025 ACCET report (students scheduled to complete in 2024), 119 of 140 students completed (85.00%) and 78 of 102 eligible completers were placed (76.47%).

Career services. The Career Services Department helps students and graduates with job leads, resumes, cover letters, applications and interviews, at no additional cost throughout their careers. Lamson does not promise or guarantee employment. Graduates who show 30 days of career-related employment receive a $100 Graduate Employment Gift.

Class schedule. In-classroom programs meet Monday through Thursday for 5 hours each day or evening: the morning session runs 8:00 am – 1:00 pm and the evening session 5:45 pm – 10:45 pm, in 50-minute class periods with breaks. When a holiday falls on a Monday, classes meet Tuesday through Friday that week. All students have a weekly commitment of 20 hours of lecture and lab.

Support. All new students attend an orientation that introduces faculty, administrators and academic life. Tutors are available as needed at no charge, and the Director of Education and Director of Career Services offer advising.

Grading. Grades are A (90–100), B (80–89), C (70–79) and F (below 70), based on written exams, practical exercises, projects and other work.

Graduation. To graduate you must complete all required courses and credits, earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, complete each course with at least 80% attendance, and pass all required competency and skill testing. Graduating students also complete an exit interview with Career Services and submit an approved resume, cover letter and three references.