Program Overview
Central Piedmont Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science in Electrical Systems Technology (A35130). It trains students to install and maintain electrical systems in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities. The program page lists a two-academic-year duration and a hybrid learning format, with Harper, Levine, and Central campuses and online study as locations. Harper Campus houses the Electrical Technology labs, with circuit simulators and AC/DC power supplies for hands-on building, testing, and troubleshooting. The catalog requires 64 credits. This listing focuses on the associate degree; the program also offers specialized certificates with their own requirements.
Curriculum Highlights
Most coursework is hands-on. Required courses cover DC/AC electricity, residential and commercial wiring, motors and controls, the National Electrical Code and code calculations, electrical estimating, diagrams and schematics, programmable logic controllers, basic construction skills, and building information modeling. Students choose 15 credits of technical electives, including solar photovoltaic, electrical maintenance, and electrical design specialties. General education covers writing, communication, mathematics, humanities, and social science. Eligible students can take part in paid work-based learning, working with an employer for a semester in an electrical systems role.
Admission Requirements
The catalog requires completion of a high school diploma or equivalent, and many courses have prerequisites or co-requisites. New degree-seeking students complete the state residency determination to obtain a Residency Certification Number (RCN), apply to the college, set up their account and email with multifactor authentication, complete online orientation, submit official transcripts, and meet an advisor before paying for classes. Transcripts and score reports determine English and math placement. Questions can go to the program office at 704-330-4458 or by email to the program team at [email protected].
Cost & Financial Aid
Tuition for college-credit courses is $76 per credit hour for North Carolina residents, capped at $1,216 per semester for 16 or more credit hours, and $268 per credit hour for nonresidents, capped at $4,288, plus fees. Published per-semester fees include a $48 technology fee, a student activity fee, a campus access and security fee for in-person or hybrid courses, IncludED course materials at $27 per credit hour, and lab fees of $27 per lab hour up to $216. The college encourages every student to complete the FAFSA and offers scholarships and a tuition payment plan.
Career Outcomes
The program says graduates are ready for entry-level careers in the electrical field, and work-based learning adds employer experience. The college states it cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.