NECA 2025 Estimating 3-Day Course

NECA’s Basic Estimating of Electrical Construction course is a hands-on approach to the basics of electrical estimating. This three-day course focuses on understanding the cost components of electrical estimating, instilling industry best practices, all while developing a sound estimating process. Topics are presented in a lecture format followed by hand-on estimating exercises to reinforce the principles learned. Through the hands-on exercises participants will be expected to conduct a takeoff, develop a material list, lookup and apply labor units, summarize the costs of the estimate, and apply overhead and profit to the estimate. Each lesson builds upon the previous one, with all the learning coming together through a simulated bid opening on the final day.

Course Overview:

When: March 11th – 13th 

Time: 8 AM – 4 PM Each day

Location: NECA Shoreline Office 

Lunch will be provided daily

Register HERE

The Basic Estimating of Electrical Construction course will help participants to advance their knowledge, ability, and skills in electrical estimating beyond their current level of experience. The intent of this course is not to make each participant a seasoned estimator as that takes time and experience. This course will, however, provide insight into estimating best practices, establishing an estimating process and challenge each participant to grow as an estimator. While computers will be used as part of this course, the primary focus will be on the estimating process and how computers and technology are tools to make estimators more efficient and eliminate mistakes.

Participants of this course should already have a general understanding of electrical materials and methods used in commercial and industrial construction. This should include general knowledge of electrical symbols used in construction documents, knowledge of various types of electrical materials and their use in electrical construction, and basic knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Course Learning Objectives:

Through active participation and completion of this course participants will be able to:

• Define estimating terminology
• Recognize and identify electrical symbols
• Identify potential estimating errors and correct them
• Understand the costs associated with electrical construction
• Prepare an estimate for a commercial electrical project including identifying the scope of work, organizing a material takeoff, applying labor units, summarizing costs and calculating a bid price for the project.

Participants will need to bring the following items to the course:

• A laptop or tablet running the current version of Microsoft Excel and the ability to open PDF files
• A measuring device such as a roller-meter multi-scale or hard-sided scale (capability to measure 1/8”, 1/4”, 1/2″, 1:10 and 1:30 scales)
• Hand tally counter
• Highlighters (colors to include yellow, orange, pink, blue, green and purple)
• Red pen or pencil
• Pencil & Eraser
• Calculator
• Notepad or Notebook