NFPA 70E 2027: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

What's New in the NFPA 70E 2027 Edition

NFPA 70E is the standard that governs electrical safety in the workplace, published by the National Fire Protection Association. The 2027 edition is the version currently in effect, and it replaces the 2024 edition.

A handful of changes came with the 2027 edition. Certain types of energized work now require an additional trained person on site beyond the qualified person doing the task. Verifying that arc-rated PPE meets the standard got stricter too, since a supplier's Declaration of Conformity alone is no longer enough on its own. Requirements around direct current equipment and battery systems grew, and a brand-new article addresses safety-related work practices for electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) for the first time.

NFPA 70E requires retraining in safety-related work practices at least every three years. Retraining may be needed sooner when changes in job duties, procedures, equipment, or technology introduce new safety practices, or when an employee is not following required practices. A new edition of NFPA 70E does not, by itself, require retraining. This course is designed to build general awareness of NFPA 70E and does not, by itself, qualify or certify an employee to perform electrical work.

Anyone who works with or near electrical equipment should know where NFPA 70E applies to their role. Browse the full lineup of NFPA 70E training courses to find the right fit.

Important Information About NFPA 70E References

This course explains the practical application of the requirements contained in NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®. It is intended to support learning and workplace compliance but does not replace the official NFPA 70E standard. 

To respect copyright restrictions, this course does not reproduce all tables, figures, or explanatory notes from the standard. Where appropriate, references are provided to specific NFPA 70E sections and tables. Learners and employers should consult the current edition of NFPA 70E for the complete regulatory text, tables, figures, and additional guidance. 

If you do not have access to the current edition of NFPA 70E, consider obtaining a licensed copy from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or through your employer's safety program.

Who Needs NFPA 70E 2027 Training?

Three groups of workers rely on NFPA 70E 2027 training, and each one interacts with electrical hazards differently. The course content below is built around what each group actually needs to stay safe.

Qualified Persons

Electricians, technicians, and contractors who work on or near energized equipment fall into this group. This course delivers the classroom knowledge piece of their training, covering hazard recognition, risk assessment, and PPE requirements. Employers are still responsible for the hands-on portion, since only they can confirm a worker meets the criteria for qualified person status on their specific equipment.

Unqualified Persons

Facility and building maintenance staff, industrial and plant maintenance workers, HVAC technicians, general laborers, and equipment operators who work near electrical hazards without performing electrical work themselves belong in this group. This course gives them full awareness training, so they understand the hazards and boundaries around energized equipment even though they never work on it directly.

Supervisors, Safety Professionals and Standby Personnel

EHS managers, safety coordinators, and site supervisors who oversee electrical work take this course to apply NFPA 70E requirements across their teams. It also fits anyone assigned to stand by as the additional person required on an energized work permit under the 2027 edition.

What the NFPA 70E 2027 Course Covers

The course opens by connecting OSHA's electrical safety regulations to NFPA 70E, so you understand why the standard matters before diving into the details. From there, the lessons walk through safety-related work practices, including how to make your working conditions electrically safe and what types of work involve electrical hazards.

The next lesson covers safety-related maintenance requirements for the equipment you work around. The final lesson addresses special equipment by name: direct current systems, batteries, electrical double layer capacitors, photovoltaic systems, electrolytic cells, and research and development laboratories.

The course runs about 4 hours and is fully self-paced. Lesson assessments check your understanding along the way, and a final exam wraps up the course. Once you pass, your certificate is available for instant download.