Engineering

Electrical Installation Level Three (TVET-CDACC)

The Electrical Installation Level Three is a TVET-CDACC Level 3 competency-based programme that trains students in basic electrical installation support skills. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn workplace safety, basic tool use, cable handling, simple wiring, installation assistance, and basic electrical circuits.

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on workplace safety, cleaning, basic tool use, simple wiring, basic electrical safety, cable handling, installation assistance, basic circuits, and industrial attachment in an electrical installation environment.

Kenya's construction sector and rural electrification programmes create demand for entry-level electrical installation support personnel. Electrical contractors, construction companies, and maintenance projects require trained assistants for cable handling, tool management, site support, and basic installation tasks.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in electrical workshop environments. Students practice tool use, cable handling, basic wiring, installation assistance, and safety procedures under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment with electrical contractors or on construction sites where students apply their skills in real installation environments.

Graduates work as electrical installation helpers, cable handlers, tool management assistants, site support assistants, and installation support staff for electrical contractors, construction companies, and maintenance projects. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Electrical Installation Level 4 and Level 5 for specialised electrical installation and engineering roles.

This programme is suitable for KCPE certificate holders or KCSE graduates with a mean grade of E who are interested in electrical work and seeking entry-level positions in electrical installation and wiring support environments.

Duration: 6 months
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 75,150
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 1 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

8 subjects

Basic Electrical Safety
Simple Wiring
Cable Handling
Basic Tool Use
Basic Circuits
Cleaning
Workplace Safety
Installation Assistance

Modules

8 in the programme

Workplace Safety
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Occupational safety in electrical environments including safe tool use, electrical hazard awareness, and personal protective equipment.
Basic Electrical Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Electrical hazards and safe practices including shock prevention, circuit isolation, and basic electrical safety awareness.
Simple Wiring
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic wiring tasks under supervision including cable routing, connection preparation, and simple electrical wiring assistance.
Cable Handling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Handling and organising cables including unrolling, cutting, routing, and storing electrical cables for installation work.
Basic Tool Use
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Using basic electrical tools including screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers, and measuring tapes for simple electrical tasks.
Basic Circuits
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic circuit concepts including series and parallel circuits, voltage, current, and fundamental electrical circuit principles.
Cleaning
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Cleaning work areas and tools including surface cleaning, tool maintenance, waste removal, and general housekeeping after electrical work.
Installation Assistance
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Assisting electricians with installations including material carrying, tool preparation, cable holding, and routine installation support.

Specialisations

Cable Management
Focus on cable handling including carrying, unrolling, routing, organising, and storing electrical cables for installation work.
Site Support
General site assistance including tool preparation, area cleaning, material handling, and routine support during electrical installations.
Tool Management
Focus on tool handling including identification, selection, maintenance, and safe use of basic electrical tools for installation work.
General Installation Support
General installation assistance including material carrying, cable handling, site preparation, and routine support to electricians.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time in workshops handling cables, simple wiring, using basic tools, cleaning, and performing basic electrical installation assistance tasks.

The trade offs

In its favour

Foundational entry to electrical profession.
Most affordable entry point to electrical installation.
Foundation for progression to higher levels.

Against it

Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Electrical work involves safety risks.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Thika Technical Training Institute67k at Nyandarua National Polytechnic

Private51k to 75k

51k at St. Paul's University TVET (Nakuru)75k at Uwezo College

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67K public. St Paul's 51-68K, Uwezo 75K/yr (spu.ac.ke, uwezocollege.ac.ke).

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available.

Funding options

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: KCPE certificate or KCSE Mean Grade E
Alternative entry: No specific subject requirements. Open to KCPE graduates and KCSE E holders.

How you are assessed

3 components

Theory Assessment
Test15% of the mark
Basic written assessment of supporting knowledge.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum60% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical electrical skills.
Practical Projects
Project25% of the mark
Completion of basic electrical tasks.

Accreditation

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Site Helper
Moderate demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 35,000
General site assistance.
Cable Handler
High demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 40,000
Handle and manage cables.
Tool Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 38,000
Handle tools for electricians.
Electrical Installation Helper
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000
Assist electricians with basic installation tasks.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as electrical installation helpers in construction companies and electrical contractors across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.