Electrical/Electronic Maintenance Certificate

Keep power moving

Fix electronics that move the world

Keep electrical and electronic equipment running smoothly—and be rewarded with an engaging career. In this role, you install, troubleshoot and maintain advanced equipment and electronics that move the world. The certificate teaches you all about circuitry, motors and motor control and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

What can you do with a certificate in Electrical/Electronic Maintenance?

The certificate in Electrical/Electronic Maintenance prepares you to work in electrical engineering, computer programming or related fields.

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Highlights

Financial Aid/Scholarships Available

Based on need and/or achievement. Explore ways to pay for college.
Career Certificate

Earn a career certificate in 1 year or less to refine your skills into an in-demand career.
Program Length: 1 Year

Full-time students finish in 1 year.
WIOA Program

Eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers.

Career Outlook

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $50,610
  
  Median
  
  $79,311
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $105,903
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $24.32
  
  Median
  
  $38.13
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $50.91
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  12.47%
  
  Certificate
  
  24.44%
  
  Some college
  
  8.64%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  42.76%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  8.14%
  
  Doctorate
  
  3.54%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment, such as computers, test equipment telemetering systems, electric motors, and batteries.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $31,586
  
  Median
  
  $40,481
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $60,550
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $15.18
  
  Median
  
  $19.46
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $29.10
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  80.15%
  
  Certificate
  
  8.2%
  
  Some college
  
  11.65%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $45,364
  
  Median
  
  $63,739
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $102,905
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $21.81
  
  Median
  
  $30.64
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $49.47
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  6.1%
  
  Certificate
  
  21.07%
  
  Some college
  
  6.74%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  23.56%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  40.08%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  2.46%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $39,917
  
  Median
  
  $61,977
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $112,540
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $19.19
  
  Median
  
  $29.79
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $54.10
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  22.02%
  
  Certificate
  
  32.27%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  45.71%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $62,022
  
  Median
  
  $78,238
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $100,337
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $29.82
  
  Median
  
  $37.61
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $48.24
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  10.83%
  
  Certificate
  
  31.72%
  
  Some college
  
  7.33%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  29.83%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  10.97%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  5.59%
  
  Doctorate
  
  3.72%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Assemble or modify electromechanical equipment or devices, such as servomechanisms, gyros, dynamometers, magnetic drums, tape drives, brakes, control linkage, actuators, and appliances.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $31,586
  
  Median
  
  $40,481
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $60,550
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $15.18
  
  Median
  
  $19.46
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $29.10
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  52.73%
  
  Certificate
  
  10.77%
  
  Some college
  
  16.88%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  19.04%
  
  Doctorate
  
  0.58%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $62,216
  
  Median
  
  $80,966
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $111,956
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $29.91
  
  Median
  
  $38.92
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $53.82
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  68.18%
  
  Certificate
  
  4.55%
  
  Some college
  
  9.09%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  9.09%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  9.1%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Recommended Pathway

This pathway serves as a guide for students to complete the degree or certificate assuming full-time enrollment (registered in 12 or more credit hours per semester) with Semester 1 typically representing a Fall term.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. For a more inclusive list of course options and degree requirements, see the college catalog.

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Credit for prior learning available
Dual credit options available
Global citizenship
Online/Virtual options available

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
CLC 120	CLC 120 College Success Seminar Class Description This course is designed to teach students attitudes and skills valuable for college success. Topics may include: growth mindset, self-advocacy skills, college resources, college culture, financial literacy, and academic success strategies, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting. Throughout this course, students will develop skills necessary for promoting positive human relations in a diverse society.	2
EET 115	EET 115 Electronic Laboratory Techniques Class Description An introduction to electronic measurement techniques, the identification and testing of electronic components, and Ohm's law and power law. Lab safety concepts, proper use of basic laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, DMM, power supplies, frequency counter and signal generators are introduced. Additional topics include: soldering and desoldering of components, breadboarding, how to keep a lab notebook and schematic reading. The student will be expected to pursue and complete a laboratory project of his/her choice with the instructor's approval.	2
EET 170	EET 170 DC Circuit Fundamentals Class Description Topics include definition of voltage, current, resistance, conductance, and power. Also includes Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws as applied to series, parallel and series-parallel circuits. Calculation of power dissipation, use of voltage and current dividers, recognition and use of Wheatstone Bridge circuits.	2
EET 171	EET 171 Programmable Logic Controllers Class Description In this course, students will learn what a Programmable Logic Controller is, how a PLC works, and how to install a PLC in an automated system. Students will also learn the basics of programming a PLC using a relay ladder logic and Boolean functions. Troubleshooting systems with PLC's will also be studied. NOTE: Recommended preparation EET 170 and EET 174 or equivalent knowledge.	3
EET 174	EET 174 AC Fundamentals Class Description Introduction to AC circuit fundamentals. Study of circuitry consisting of AC sources, resistors, inductors, capacitors and transformers. Course material covers, reactance, impedance, vectors, current and voltage phase relationships, apparent and reactive power, complex notation. Q, resonance and filters are discussed.	2
MTH 117	MTH 117 Technical Mathematics I Class Description This course covers college mathematics for students majoring in technology. It includes algebra, geometry and trigonometry. NOTE: A specific graphing calculator is required for this course. Contact the EMPS division office for details.	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	CLC 120
Course Title	CLC 120 College Success Seminar Class Description This course is designed to teach students attitudes and skills valuable for college success. Topics may include: growth mindset, self-advocacy skills, college resources, college culture, financial literacy, and academic success strategies, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting. Throughout this course, students will develop skills necessary for promoting positive human relations in a diverse society.
Credits	2

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 115
Course Title	EET 115 Electronic Laboratory Techniques Class Description An introduction to electronic measurement techniques, the identification and testing of electronic components, and Ohm's law and power law. Lab safety concepts, proper use of basic laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, DMM, power supplies, frequency counter and signal generators are introduced. Additional topics include: soldering and desoldering of components, breadboarding, how to keep a lab notebook and schematic reading. The student will be expected to pursue and complete a laboratory project of his/her choice with the instructor's approval.
Credits	2

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 170
Course Title	EET 170 DC Circuit Fundamentals Class Description Topics include definition of voltage, current, resistance, conductance, and power. Also includes Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws as applied to series, parallel and series-parallel circuits. Calculation of power dissipation, use of voltage and current dividers, recognition and use of Wheatstone Bridge circuits.
Credits	2

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 171
Course Title	EET 171 Programmable Logic Controllers Class Description In this course, students will learn what a Programmable Logic Controller is, how a PLC works, and how to install a PLC in an automated system. Students will also learn the basics of programming a PLC using a relay ladder logic and Boolean functions. Troubleshooting systems with PLC's will also be studied. NOTE: Recommended preparation EET 170 and EET 174 or equivalent knowledge.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 174
Course Title	EET 174 AC Fundamentals Class Description Introduction to AC circuit fundamentals. Study of circuitry consisting of AC sources, resistors, inductors, capacitors and transformers. Course material covers, reactance, impedance, vectors, current and voltage phase relationships, apparent and reactive power, complex notation. Q, resonance and filters are discussed.
Credits	2

Course Highlights
Course Code	MTH 117
Course Title	MTH 117 Technical Mathematics I Class Description This course covers college mathematics for students majoring in technology. It includes algebra, geometry and trigonometry. NOTE: A specific graphing calculator is required for this course. Contact the EMPS division office for details.
Credits	3

Course options: Students can choose MTH 122 or MTH 144 instead of MTH 117.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
EET 114	EET 114 Motor and Machine Controls Class Description Describes control circuits and components used in industry with particular attention to motor controls. Material includes controller characteristics and applications. NOTE: Recommended preparation EET 170 and EET 174 or equivalent knowledge.	3
EET 271	EET 271 Advanced Programmable Controls Class Description This course will address application and interfacing aspects of programmable control not covered in the introductory course EET 171. Topics included in this course cover information on data acquisition and data file manipulation, analog to digital and digital to analog interfacing, networking of PLC?s, and touch panel interface operation.	3
EWE 120	EWE 120 Job Readiness Skills Class Description This course focuses on job readiness skills to prepare students to apply for an internship/job, improve in a current internship/job, or successfully work towards a promotion. Topics covered include networking, resume writing, interviewing, social media tools, self-awareness, conflict resolution and time management.	1
ENG 120	ENG 120 Introduction to Professional & Technical Composition Class Description Introduction to Professional & Technical Composition is an introductory college level writing course for anyone interested in learning how to develop their professional writing skills for real world applications. Students will learn how to plan, draft, compose, and revise a variety of technical and professional documents common to the workplace. Writing clearly and succinctly for a defined target audience will be emphasized, as well as developing skills in document design and multimodal composition. Projects are based on practical situations within the student’s area of study.	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 114
Course Title	EET 114 Motor and Machine Controls Class Description Describes control circuits and components used in industry with particular attention to motor controls. Material includes controller characteristics and applications. NOTE: Recommended preparation EET 170 and EET 174 or equivalent knowledge.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 271
Course Title	EET 271 Advanced Programmable Controls Class Description This course will address application and interfacing aspects of programmable control not covered in the introductory course EET 171. Topics included in this course cover information on data acquisition and data file manipulation, analog to digital and digital to analog interfacing, networking of PLC?s, and touch panel interface operation.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	EWE 120
Course Title	EWE 120 Job Readiness Skills Class Description This course focuses on job readiness skills to prepare students to apply for an internship/job, improve in a current internship/job, or successfully work towards a promotion. Topics covered include networking, resume writing, interviewing, social media tools, self-awareness, conflict resolution and time management.
Credits	1

Course Highlights
Course Code	ENG 120
Course Title	ENG 120 Introduction to Professional & Technical Composition Class Description Introduction to Professional & Technical Composition is an introductory college level writing course for anyone interested in learning how to develop their professional writing skills for real world applications. Students will learn how to plan, draft, compose, and revise a variety of technical and professional documents common to the workplace. Writing clearly and succinctly for a defined target audience will be emphasized, as well as developing skills in document design and multimodal composition. Projects are based on practical situations within the student’s area of study.
Credits	3

Course options: Students can choose ENG 121 instead of ENG 120.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits	Course Highlights
EET 151	EET 151 PC Hardware and Networking Fundamentals Class Description This course will cover the basic components of a PC, including motherboards, memory, disk drives, cases and power supplies. Computers will be disassembled, reassembled and configured to operate.NOTE: Recommended preparation CIT 120 and concurrent enrollment in EET 170 or equivalent knowledge.	3
EET 223	EET 223 Introduction to Digital Electronics Class Description (Formerly EET 213) This course covers principles of operation, performance, and design of digital circuits and digital instrumentation. Number systems including binary; Boolean algebra and the application to digital logic; combinational and sequential circuits; digital logic application to electronic instrumentation; basic Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and lab work with CMOS & FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) will be covered.	4

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 151
Course Title	EET 151 PC Hardware and Networking Fundamentals Class Description This course will cover the basic components of a PC, including motherboards, memory, disk drives, cases and power supplies. Computers will be disassembled, reassembled and configured to operate.NOTE: Recommended preparation CIT 120 and concurrent enrollment in EET 170 or equivalent knowledge.
Credits	3

Course Highlights
Course Code	EET 223
Course Title	EET 223 Introduction to Digital Electronics Class Description (Formerly EET 213) This course covers principles of operation, performance, and design of digital circuits and digital instrumentation. Number systems including binary; Boolean algebra and the application to digital logic; combinational and sequential circuits; digital logic application to electronic instrumentation; basic Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and lab work with CMOS & FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) will be covered.
Credits	4

Total Credit Hours

31

*Cost is estimated based on recommended pathway credit hours from academic year 2024-2025. This includes in-district tuition and other fees, such as books and materials before financial aid is applied, as well as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.

Electrical Engineering Technology at CLC

Get the bigger picture

This certificate is just one possible way to study Electrical Engineering Technology. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.

View the Electrical Engineering Technology program overview

Frequently asked questions

Through this program, you learn how to:
- control electronic circuits, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and motors
- solder and desolder components
- work with microprocessors
You also learn how to use bench test equipment, including:
- DC power supplies
- multimeters
- function generators
- oscilloscopes
You learn in a lecture-lab format. We spend time in lectures discussing the subject material, and then you immediately follow through with a hands-on lab.
No. You learn everything you need to know through our hands-on environment.
No. We do not offer online classes because all hands-on labs are in person. Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.

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Keep power moving

Fix electronics that move the world

What can you do with a certificate in Electrical/Electronic Maintenance?

Highlights

Financial Aid/Scholarships Available

Career Certificate

Program Length: 1 Year

WIOA Program

Career Outlook

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

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Recommended Pathway

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Semester 1 14 Credits

Semester 2 10 Credits

Semester 3 7 Credits

Total Credit Hours

Electrical Engineering Technology at CLC

Get the bigger picture

Frequently asked questions

What will I learn?

How will I learn?

Do I need to know anything about electrical engineering?

Can I take my classes online?

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