QEW Residential Electrical Safety and Systems Training Series

QEW Residential Electrical Safety and Systems Training Series

OSHA requires employers to ensure workers are trained on electrical hazards before they work on or near energized equipment. This 30-hour on-demand course provides that training for HVAC technicians working in residential and light commercial settings.

Why HVAC technicians need QEW training

HVAC technicians routinely work on heat pumps, variable-speed drives, and control panels — equipment that often requires them to open panels and troubleshoot energized circuits. In many states, this work falls under an electrical license or requires supervision by a licensed electrician.

Because technicians frequently encounter live electrical components, OSHA and NFPA 70E require them to be trained as “qualified persons” for electrical safety, making QEW-level training a critical safety expectation.

Technician working on HVAC equipment
Course preview icon placeholder

Aligned with OSHA and NFPA standards

Training based on OSHA 1910.332-333 and NFPA 70E (2024) standards for electrical safety in residential and light commercial settings

Course benefits icon placeholder

Structured online training

Your techs complete it on their own time instead of you teaching it during work hours

Certification types icon placeholder

Covers the safety procedures for hands-on verification

Training includes the electrical safety practices techs need to demonstrate in the field under supervision

EPA 608 certification icon placeholder

Self-paced online access

Techs complete training on any device, 24/7, at their own pace within 180 days

EPA 608 certification icon placeholder

Install technicians ready to move into service work

who need electrical theory and troubleshooting skills beyond basic installation

What QEW Residential Training covers

This program teaches HVAC technicians to work safely around energized equipment in residential and light commercial settings. By the end of this program, technicians will learn to:

  • Apply OSHA and NFPA 70E (2024) safety standards and recognize electrical hazards

  • Implement lockout/tagout procedures and select proper PPE

  • Understand electrical theory — DC/AC circuits, Ohm’s Law, three-phase power

  • Troubleshoot motors, controls, and drives safely

  • Covers essential wiring and installation principles based on NEC requirements

  • Use multimeters and testing equipment correctly

  • Read electrical drawings and prints for system diagnosis

HVAC technician working on equipment

QEW Residential training cost

Non-members price
Bronze members price
Silver members price
Gold members price
Enroll in QEW Residential Training

QEW electrical safety training FAQ

QEW stands for Qualified Electrical Worker, someone trained to recognize and avoid electrical hazards. HVAC technicians work on energized equipment, such as heat pumps, VRF systems, and variable-speed drives, on every service call. OSHA requires that anyone working on or near live electrical systems is qualified to perform those tasks. This training covers those requirements based on OSHA 1910.332–333 and NFPA 70E (2024) standards.

The employer determines whether a worker is qualified after they complete training and demonstrate competency through hands-on work, per OSHA standards. This course provides the training component, but you’ll need to verify their hands-on competency using a workplace checklist.

The training is 30 hours of online content. Technicians have 180 days to complete it at their own pace.

OSHA and NFPA 70E recommend electrical safety retraining at least every three years, or when job assignments change significantly.

QEW training meets OSHA requirements for HVAC technicians working on or near electrical systems. State electrician licensing requires additional education, thousands of apprenticeship hours, and a licensing exam. HVAC contractors don’t need to be licensed electricians, but they do need QEW training to work safely on energized equipment.

This training covers fundamentals, so technicians at different experience levels can complete it, but it’s primarily meant for those beginning a career in residential HVAC.

No equipment is required. This is online, theory-based training. Hands-on competency verification happens in your workplace under proper supervision.

NFPA 70E is the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. It provides the framework for protecting workers from shock, arc flash, and arc blast when working on or near energized equipment. This training follows the 2024 edition.

Technicians receive an ACCA certificate showing they completed electrical safety training aligned with OSHA and NFPA 70E standards.

Yes, the training covers light commercial settings in addition to residential. If your techs work on small commercial HVAC systems, this course applies.

IMPORTANT | Per OSHA Qualified Electrical Worker (1910.332-333) standards, it is the employer who may deem their worker as trained to be a QEW. ACCA cannot make this designation for you.

The computer-based QEW training offered by ACCA is meant to be part of an employer's QEW program for an HVAC technician. The training is intended to supplement an HVAC employer’s on-the-job QEW training.

For more information on OSHA QEW standards: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.332

Enroll in QEW Residential Electrical Safety and Systems Training

Keep your team safe and protect your company from liability. Sign them up for QEW electrical safety training today.

Enroll Now