NFPA 70E Training & Certificate

Originally developed at the request of OSHA, the NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace is an essential document providing safe work practices that reduce exposure to electrical shock, electrocution, arc flash, arc blast, and other electrical hazards. Its requirements are designed to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities in the workplace.

The most recent edition of NFPA 70E, published in 2024, outlines the most up-to-date policies, procedures, and program controls that will reduce the risk of exposure to electrical hazards to an acceptable level.

NFPA 70E training, sometimes called NFPA 70E certification, is a course intended for workers and supervisors to teach the NFPA 70E requirements and recommended work practices.

Courses will cover topics like various electrical hazards, the injuries they can cause, and safe electrical work practices and maintenance requirements like Lock-Out/Tag-Out.

No. While NFPA 70 and NFPA 70E are both electrical safety standards written by the National Fire Protection Association, they focus on different aspects of electrical safety.

NFPA 70 is known as the National Electrical Code. It establishes the standards for designing and installing electrical systems that are safe and effective. It’s frequently adopted into law by states, municipalities, and public utility commissions to protect the safety of both people and property. For example, it reduces the likelihood of electrical shorts that could cause a building fire.

Meanwhile, NFPA 70E specifically concerns worker and workplace safety related to these same systems.

No. OSHA does not incorporate NFPA 70E into its standards by reference, so its requirements, including training, are not OSHA’s requirements (except where previous versions of NFPA 70E have influenced official OSHA standards).

That said, OSHA considers NFPA 70E as the primary consensus safety standard on its subject and uses it to support citations for relevant OSHA violations. NFPA 70E essentially describes how OSHA’s performance-based requirements can be met by defining the standard industry practices necessary for electrical safety.

In other words, OSHA standards are the law and NFPA 70E standards are voluntary, but NFPA 70E outlines methods you can use to comply with OSHA’s safety requirements. NFPA 70E compliance helps businesses meet OSHA requirements.

NFPA 70E training is essential for professionals who work with or around electrical systems and are exposed to potential electrical hazards. This includes:​

• Electricians and Electrical Workers
• Maintenance Technicians 
• Engineers 
• Safety Managers and Compliance Officers
• Supervisors and Plant Managers

First, you’ll need to locate an NFPA 70E course by a reputable provider like us. Before you sign up, make sure that the course you’ve chosen is acceptable to your employer, licensing board, or other regulatory body.

If you choose NFPA 70E online training like ours, you’ll be able to go through the material at your own pace, anywhere and anytime you have access to the internet. In order to earn NFPA 70E certification online, you’ll need to follow up your studies by passing the final exam. Built-in quizzes throughout the lessons will help prepare you for the test.

The NFPA 70E standard sets specific training requirements for “qualified persons,” “unqualified persons,” and supervisors.

A qualified worker is defined as someone who not only possesses the technical skills to maintain, troubleshoot, and install electrical equipment correctly but also possesses the necessary safety skills and knowledge earned through rigorous electrical safety training.

According to section 110.6(1), these are the NFPA 70E training requirements for a qualified person:

• Precautionary techniques used for working around the hazards
• Applicable electrical policies and procedures
• Proper use of PPE, including arc flash, insulating, and shielding materials
• Proper use of insulating tools and test equipment
• Distinguish exposed, energized conductors and circuits from other parts of equipment
• Determine nominal voltage
• Understand the approach distances and determining factors for shock and arc flash boundaries
• Understand the decision-making process necessary to be able to:
  • Perform job safety planning
  • Identify electrical hazards
  • Assess the associated risk
  • Select the appropriate risk control methods, including PPE

Both OSHA and NFPA 70E also require unqualified workers to have the unique risks associated with electrical energy explained to them. Unqualified workers are defined as those who work close to potential electrical hazards but aren’t “qualified” – such as maintenance or janitorial workers. Under NFPA 70E section 110.6, training topics for unqualified workers include:

• Electrical Safety Training
• Lockout/Tagout Procedure Training
• Emergency Response Training

Finally, supervisors – including all safety and health professionals – must have sufficient knowledge to monitor the practices of qualified and unqualified persons involving electrical dangers.

NFPA 70E training requires technical hands-on training for employees, not just lectures. Training will need to be customized to an employee’s qualified tasks and specific equipment. That said, NFPA 70E online training can play an important role in laying foundational knowledge before hands-on practice begins. Additionally, workers can learn about key updates to the standard every three years by earning NFPA 70E certification online.

NFPA 70E contains guidance concerning the training of employees who are exposed to electrical hazards, but it doesn’t set a requirement for the length of time the training must take.

This means the training times can vary depending on the employee's job role.

For example, if training an unqualified person, the training may not need to be as extensive as training a qualified person. This is because the unqualified employee is not exposed to the same level of hazards as the qualified person.

To determine the necessary training time, start by looking at the OSHA part 1910 subpart-S Electrical, where you will find the regulations that address electrical safety training for employees.

Employees need to renew their training in safe work procedures and learn any modifications to the NFPA 70E standard at least every 3 years.

Training may need to be repeated sooner if work circumstances change, or the previous training proves inadequate. For example, if you’ve added new equipment, changed job responsibilities, had a close call, or failed a safety inspection.

Costs for NFPA 70E training may differ depending on the type of training you require and the method. For example, earning NFPA 70E certification online will cost less than an in-person classroom experience. Basic NFPA 70E online training can be as low as $45.

NFPA 70E training is necessary to prevent electrical workplace injuries and fatalities by increasing workers’ awareness of relevant hazards and best work practices. An accident-free workplace means higher productivity, fewer accident-related expenses, and a better reputation.

Companies that require NFPA 70E training will also have an easier time with OSHA compliance, so it can also save money and administrative hassle by preventing OSHA violations.

Yes. Anyone who works around electrical equipment will find NFPA 70E training to be worthwhile. You’ll learn to identify and avoid relevant hazards, reducing the likelihood of an accident or incident. Learning NFPA 70E standards also gives you a foundation in safe work procedures and makes it easier to comply with safety standards like OSHA.

Absolutely. 360training's NFPA 70E training is developed by industry experts and aligns with the latest NFPA 70E standards. While NFPA 70E certification is not issued by a central authority, completing our course equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement effective electrical safety practices in the workplace.