Construction Electricity

The Construction Electricity Program at Rosedale Technical College prepares students for entry-level careers in the electrical construction industry through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory training. Students develop the technical knowledge and practical skills to install, maintain, and troubleshoot residential, commercial, and light industrial electrical systems while emphasizing safety and compliance with industry standards.

The curriculum includes electrical theory, AC and DC circuits, electronics, motor controls, power systems, low-voltage data communications, electrical services, residential and commercial wiring, conduit and raceway installation, blueprint reading, and electrical construction practices. Students gain experience applying the National Electrical Code (NEC), performing electrical calculations, interpreting construction documents, and using industry-standard tools and test equipment. Construction electricians wire homes and businesses that are in the construction phase as well as carry out maintenance and repairs on existing buildings, sometimes working in tight spaces and at heights. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded an Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) Degree.

• Students in both the construction electricity and industrial electricity programs receive instruction on the National Electric Code (NEC) and can earn various lift certificates and OSHA certificates.
• In-person, hands-on courses provide real-life training opportunities where students use tools and equipment that may be found in the workforce.
• Rosedale Tech’s instructors aren’t lifelong educators, but rather individuals who bring years of actual industry experience to the classroom.
• No experience? No problem — many students come in with no previous training and graduate with the skills and confidence needed to enter the workforce.

Rosedale Tech offers both Construction Electricity and Industrial Electricity programs, and can guide students toward one discipline — or both, for a well-rounded education — based on their career goals. Rosedale Technical College is a private, non-profit technical college founded in 1949 and in continuous operation since, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In 2018 Forbes ranked Rosedale Tech 11th on its list of Top 25 Two-Year Trade Schools, and in 2021 it ranked 3rd on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s non-profit list of 2-Year Colleges with Best Graduation Rates for 2019.

To be accepted for admission, an applicant must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalent certificate. Applications are accepted from high school students who are expected to graduate; however, their graduation must be confirmed before entering the college. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check.

Entrance exam. Applicants must successfully complete a recognized entrance exam, administered by a member of the staff, or present an acceptable SAT/ACT score. For Carpentry, Construction, Industrial and Electrical applicants the passing score is 18 on the Wonderlic, or an SAT of 1000 or ACT of 19.

For final acceptance, each applicant must submit an official final high school transcript or an official equivalent certificate/documentation and possess a valid driver’s license.

Transfer credits are accepted: students transferring from another post-secondary institution or the military should speak with the Director of Education, and official transcripts are required for review. Rosedale Tech also has articulation agreements with a number of high school career training centers (CTCs).

Class hours. Monday through Thursday, 7:30am – 3:00pm — a four-day school week that helps students balance school with work and other obligations.

Program length. The courses are taught in four 16-week semesters, and the program can be completed in 16 months. The complete program consists of 77.5 semester credit hours, and progress reports are distributed at the end of each grading period.

Start dates. Classes for day programs start approximately every 8 – 16 weeks. Contact an admissions representative for the exact start date; some programs may not be available for every start date.

Holidays and breaks. In 2026 the college observes M.L. King Day, Presidents Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, a summer break from 07/14/26 through 08/02/26, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and a Christmas break from 12/24/26 through 01/03/27. In 2027 there is a spring break from 03/20/27 through 03/28/27 and a summer break from 07/20/27 through 08/08/27. Due to how holidays fall, some semesters may have an additional week. The maximum time allowed to complete a program is 150% of its published length, measured in semester credit hours attempted.

Can’t fit the day program into your schedule? Rosedale Tech suggests asking an admissions representative about its evening electrical diploma program.

Tuition and fees. Tuition is $10,250 per semester for four 16-week semesters, a total of $41,000 ($529.03 per credit). Students are full-time when enrolled in 12 to 22 credits per semester, and semester tuition may be adjusted for transfer credits and advanced standing. All programs carry a $40.00 application fee, paid with the application, and a $110.00 registration fee, paid on acceptance. Tuition and fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card.

Other costs. Lab fees, charged each semester, total $1,900. Textbooks and supplies are estimated at $800. A professional tool set through the college is estimated at $2,500. The uniform package is $375. Students must also provide a Windows laptop.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Many Rosedale Tech students qualify for some type of financial assistance. The college pairs accepted students with a financial aid coordinator to help customize a personalized financial aid plan that may include eligible grants, loans, and other awards, and will also assist with the application for federal financial aid. Rosedale Tech is proud to support members of the military community as they transition back to civilian life; its financial aid team includes members who are VA certified and can help military students navigate their military benefits for education.

Aid programs. The college is an eligible institution for these programs, and its Financial Aid Officer supplies information on how to apply:

• PA State Grant — for Pennsylvania residents; grants do not have to be repaid, and certain deadline dates apply.
• Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) — a needs-based state program for PA residents training in short-term programs for a targeted (growth) industry.
• Federal Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) — grants that do not have to be repaid. Title IV eligibility starts with the FAFSA®.
• Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal PLUS Loans for parents of dependent undergraduates — funds borrowed must be repaid.
• Federal Work Study — a limited number of campus jobs, with information in the Student Success Center.
• Veterans’ educational benefits, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation funding, the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship, and TRA/TAA retraining for displaced workers.

Institutional grants. Students must be conditionally accepted, complete the FAFSA and complete the Grant Application. Grants include an Early Application Grant ($500, apply before December 31st of the senior year of high school), SkillsUSA competition awards (a $250 tool credit for all competitors, and grants for top-3 regional, state and national finishers), a Scouting Achievement Grant ($2,000), a Firefighter/EMS Grant ($1,000), a Gear Grant (up to $3,000 for students with unmet need), a Displaced Worker Grant (up to $4,000), a Pathway Grant and a Changing Lanes Pathway Grant (up to $2,000 for transfer students).

Graduates of the construction electricity program may qualify for careers such as panel builders and testers, construction electricians, electronic repair technicians, apparatus repair technicians and appliance repair technicians. Some students who have gone through Rosedale Tech’s electrical program have chosen to use their skills and open their own businesses.

Rosedale Tech cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 7% growth in employment of electricians from 2021 to 2030.

Outcomes. In the 2024–2025 rates reported to the PA State Board of Private Licensed Schools in September 2025, Construction Electricity recorded a 91% graduation rate (50 of 57 starts, with 2 still enrolled), and 95% of 2023–24 graduates were placed in jobs.

Career services. Advice and instruction in resume preparation, job applications and interviews, and assistance in securing full-time and temporary employment, are provided through Rosedale Technical College’s career placement services. All current students and graduates are eligible for placement assistance throughout their careers. The Student Success Team connects students with employers through career fairs, mock interviews, employer presentations and company field trips, and Rosedale Tech works with over 1,800 regional employers. No guarantee of employment is made, nor are any promises implied regarding minimum starting salaries.

Electricity labs. Electricity programs often combine classrooms and labs for integrated learning environments. Training areas consist of residential and commercial framed walls for wiring applications, and Construction Electricity uses training stations for motors, power sources, and electronics.

Grading and graduation. Grades are based on classroom participation, laboratory and project work, and written assessments, on a scale from A (91–100) to F (64 and below). To graduate, a student must pass all program courses, reach a minimum cumulative QPA of 2.0, maintain any program attendance requirements and complete any program-specific requirements. A student may face disciplinary action, up to termination, after 10 absences, 10 lates/early departures or 10 partial absences in a semester. Students also receive a soft skills transcript each semester that evaluates communication, eye contact, team participation, timeliness, safety adherence and dress code.

Class size. The average class size is less than 25 students per class; the maximum during lab is 30 students per instructor.

Bring your own technology. Students must have a reliable Windows laptop or netbook (Apple products cannot be used) with a keyboard, Wi-Fi, a camera, at least 4 GB RAM and a 10” screen. Most textbooks are supplied in electronic format, and the college uses Moodle as its learning management system. Programs marked hybrid are intended to be taught fully in person; only in extenuating circumstances may courses be taught in a hybrid format through Moodle.