Published On
2025-12-08
Looking for the electrician tools every apprentice needs? Our essential tools list covers all the gear you’ll rely on daily, from voltage testers and wire strippers to tool belts, pliers, and cable cutters. Whether you’re building your first electrical apprentice tool list or upgrading your toolkit, this guide breaks down the tools electricians need to work safely, efficiently, and confidently.
Ready to jumpstart your career as an apprentice electrician? Fantastic.
But before diving into the world of wires and circuits, let's talk about your most important allies: your electrician tools. Every electrician and electrician-in-training needs a trusty tool kit that can tackle any electrical tasks that come their way.
Keep scrolling to discover what electrical equipment apprentices need to succeed and get the job done safely and efficiently. Let’s get you all geared up.
Let’s start with the basics. These electrical tools are the top items you’ll reach for daily in your electrical apprenticeship and beyond:
Before anything else, every apprentice electrician needs a tool pouch, belt, or bag to keep essential tools organized and within reach. Think of it as your personal command centre with everything you need for your apprenticeship, right at your fingertips.
When choosing a tool belt or bag, consider its durability and comfort. Look for multiple dividers, pouches, and pockets for tools of various sizes.
A basic electrical tester, like a voltage tester, is used to measure voltage, current, and resistance. This may be all you need as an apprentice. A multimeter, on the other hand, is more versatile than voltage testers, but can also be slightly more expensive and require a little more learning to use effectively. This will be your go-to tool as you progress in your electrical work, so buying it first might be a better investment.
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Electricians use tape for a variety of applications on the job. It insulates wire connections, protects wires from abrasions, and provides temporary fixes before permanent connections are made.
Fish tape is used to pull wires through walls, conduits, and electrical boxes. It’s one of the most basic electrician tools for apprentices.
Tape measures are key items crucial for most electrical projects. Apprentice electricians use them for accurate measurement when installing conduits or wiring systems, electrical cables, and wires, to measure lengths, plan cable runs, and verify dimensions.
Another basic tool for electricians is the cable tie.
Also known as a zip tie, this simple and highly versatile tool organizes, secures, and protects electrical wires and cables from wear and tear.
If there are electrician tools for grouping cables, then there must be tools to cut them.
Cable cutters or wire cutters are some of the most basic electrician tools you can find in any toolbelt. You use them to make clean and precise cuts on electrical wiring and cables, a task you’ll need to do often as an apprentice.
A plier set is usually on top of any electrical apprentice tool list, simply because they’re helpful for a wide range of electrical tasks. A good set of pliers will quickly become your go-to tool for electrician skills, such as gripping, twisting, cutting, and shaping wires and components.
When choosing a pliers set, make sure you have at least one of each kind:
Another basic tool is the wire stripper, designed to quickly and safely remove insulation from electrical wires without damaging the metal conductor inside.
Wire strippers are among the most frequently used tools for installing outlets and light fixtures, as well as working on larger electrical projects, so make sure your bag includes one.
A utility blade is the Swiss Army knife of the electrical world: versatile, handy, and always there when you need it.
This multi-purpose tool earns its place in every electrical apprentice's tool kit for its support in various tasks, such as cutting electrical tape, stripping insulation in a pinch (though not ideal compared to a wire stripper), or trimming materials.
A power drill and a set of drill bits are among the most valuable tools electricians need, especially for apprentices just dipping their toes in the field.
You'll often drill holes for mounting electrical boxes or secure various components, regardless of the project.
To become an electrician, knowing how to use power tools and hand tools, such as drills, is an absolute must.
Electrical work involves a lot of screw terminals and fasteners, which means you’ll need a quality set of screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips head) in various sizes.
A level ensures surfaces are straight and even, essential for the accurate installation of circuit breakers and other electrical components.
A torpedo level is a compact, portable device perfect for tight spaces, such as aligning outlets, switches, or junction boxes precisely.
Working as an electrician isn’t just about getting the job done; it's about staying safe while you do it. To that end, some of the most necessary gear for electricians, apprentice or otherwise, is personal protective equipment, or PPE. Consider the following:
Interested in starting your electrical career? Skilled Trades College of Canada can get you apprenticeship-ready in as little as 12 weeks. Our comprehensive courses strike the perfect balance between hands-on training and in-classroom learning (80:20), designed for students who learn best through practical experience.
Graduates of our Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program will gain the essential skills to become highly competent apprentices. Not only that, but they also receive a complete set of Milwaukee tools, a Milwaukee backpack, and PPE to kickstart their careers.
Don't short-circuit your dreams. Enroll at Skilled Trades College today and earn the tools you need to become a top-tier electrical apprentice.
9,281+
LIVES CHANGED
12,481+
WIRES PULLED
85,382+
2X4'S CUT
9,756+
PIPES LAYED
9,281+
LIVES CHANGED
12,481+
WIRES PULLED
85,382+
2X4'S CUT
9,756+
PIPES LAYED
9,281+
LIVES CHANGED
12,481+
WIRES PULLED
85,382+
2X4'S CUT
9,756+
PIPES LAYED
