Electrical · Apprentices
Apprentice electrician tool list: what you need day one, and what can wait
The hand tools a first-year electrical apprentice actually uses, what to add in year two, which test gear ratings matter, what to skip, and a small starter stack that grows with you.
Short answer: on day one, an electrical apprentice needs a short list of hand tools: linesman’s pliers, wire strippers, side cutters, a multi-bit screwdriver, a tape measure, a utility knife, a torpedo level and a pouch to carry them. Ask your employer or program for its required list before you buy. Hold off on power tools and expensive meters until you know what your crew runs.
It is easy to overbuy in year one. The tool aisle makes everything look essential, and a pouch full of new tools feels like progress. But you will learn more about what you need in your first three months on a crew than from any list, this one included. Buy the basics, watch what the journeymen reach for, and fill in the gaps as they show up.
Start with your shop’s list
Before you buy anything:
- Ask for the required tool list. Your contractor or apprenticeship program may have one, and it beats any list online.
- Ask what the shop supplies. Cordless tools, benders, fish tape, ladders and meters may be shop-owned. Do not buy what you will be handed.
- Ask about PPE. Under OSHA’s construction rule, employers generally must provide required PPE at no cost to employees. The exceptions include non-specialty safety-toe footwear and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, if the employer lets you wear them off the job.
Day-one hand tools
| Tool | What you use it for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Linesman’s pliers | Twisting, cutting, pulling, everything | The one tool you will use every hour. |
| Wire strippers | Stripping the wire sizes you work with most | Match the gauge range to your work. |
| Side (diagonal) cutters | Cutting wire, ties, small cable | Keep them for cutting, not prying. |
| Multi-bit screwdriver | Device screws, covers, terminals | Covers most bits in one tool. |
| Tape measure | Box heights, layout, conduit runs | Pick one you can read in low light. |
| Utility knife | Cable jackets, packaging, everything else | Close it before it goes in the pouch. |
| Torpedo level | Boxes, devices, conduit | Magnetic helps on boxes and strut. |
| Needle-nose pliers | Loops, tight spaces, small parts | Often the second pliers you buy. |
| Pouch or tool belt | Carrying the above | Fit it to what you carry, not the other way around. |
Brand matters less than you think in year one. Buy tools that feel right in your hand and that you will not cry about losing. Mixed brands are normal on every crew.
Year two and later
Once you know your crew, your work and your platform, add tools as you need them:
- Cordless drill and impact driver. Buy on the battery platform your crew already runs, so batteries and chargers are shared.
- Fish tape and pulling gear, if your shop does not supply them.
- Nut drivers, a hex key set, a pliers wrench, a cable cutter.
- A conduit bender, if you do a lot of EMT and the shop’s are always out.
- Your own meter and tester, once you know what you are testing (see below).
If you are borrowing the same tool from a journeyman every day, that tool goes on your list.
Test gear: buy the right rating, not the biggest number
You will probably be handed shop test gear first. When you buy your own, the ratings matter more than the brand.
- Measurement category (CAT). Meters are rated by the kind of circuit they are built to withstand. Fluke’s guide gives examples: CAT II for single-phase receptacle-connected loads, CAT III for three-phase distribution including single-phase commercial lighting, CAT IV for the utility connection, outdoor conductors and service entrances.Look for both a category and a voltage rating that cover the work.
- Rated for the job. OSHA’s general industry electrical rule requires that test instruments and their accessories be rated for the circuits and equipment they are connected to, and that instruments, leads, probes and connectors be visually inspected before use. Damaged gear comes out of service.
- Who tests. The same OSHA rule says only qualified persons may perform testing work on electric circuits or equipment. As an apprentice, follow your employer’s rules on what you may test and under whose supervision.
A non-contact voltage tester is a useful first check, but it is not a substitute for proper testing with a rated meter. Follow your training, your employer’s safety program and the meter maker’s instructions.
Insulated tools
Insulated hand tools are made to standards such as ASTM F1505, which covers insulated and insulating hand tools for work at up to 1000 V ac or 1500 V dc.Some employers require them for certain work; others do not. They do not replace de-energizing, lockout/tagout, testing or PPE. Ask your employer what their safety program requires, and inspect insulated tools for nicks and cracks before you use them.
What to skip in year one
- Big tool kits. Half of a 100-piece set is tools you will never use on a jobsite.
- Power tools before you know the platform. Batteries are the expensive part. Match your crew.
- The most expensive meter on the shelf. Buy for the rating you need, when you need it.
- Specialty tools for work you have not done yet. Buy them when the job shows up.
- A huge rolling stack. You will not have room in your car or your crew truck, and you will not have the tools to fill it.
A starter stack that grows with you
You do not need a full modular stack in year one. A sensible start:
| Stage | Setup | What lives there |
|---|---|---|
| Day one | Pouch or tool belt | Your day-one hand tools |
| Month three | Pouch + one lid box or bag | Spare blades, extra bits, tape, a few connectors, PPE |
| Year two | Small rolling base + drawer unit | Cordless tools and batteries low, hand tools in drawers |
| Later | Add organizers and drawers as needed | Consumables in clear bins, test gear in its own padded drawer |
The drawer logic does not change as the stack grows: test gear in its own padded spot, heavy tools low, hand tools grouped by task, consumables where you can see them. Our guide to setting up a stack for electrical service work walks through it drawer by drawer.
For a look at small layouts, see the low-voltage sample stack, a two-box kit we built as an example, or browse the other sample stacks. If you have a battery platform or a hand-tool brand you already like, Team Orange is the electricians’ hub.
Record your tools from day one
Shared jobsites are where tools disappear. It is easiest to keep a record when you only own ten tools. For each one, write down the brand, model and serial number, and photograph the serial plate. Engrave or mark your tools so you can tell yours from the next apprentice’s. The tool theft inventory guide covers what to record, and the free inventory template has the fields.
Questions
What tools does a first-year electrical apprentice need?
Usually a set of hand tools: linesman's pliers, wire strippers, side cutters, a multi-bit screwdriver, a tape measure, a utility knife, a torpedo level and a pouch or bag to carry them. Your employer or program may have its own required list, so ask before you buy.
Should an apprentice buy their own power tools?
Not right away. Ask whether your shop supplies cordless tools. Wait until you know which battery platform your crew runs and which tools you actually reach for.
What meter should an apprentice buy?
One whose measurement category (CAT) and voltage rating match the circuits you will test, with test leads rated for the same work. Follow your employer's rules on who may test and how.
Are insulated screwdrivers required?
It depends on your employer and the work. Insulated tools made to ASTM F1505 are rated for work near energized parts up to 1000 V ac, but they are not a substitute for de-energizing, testing and PPE. Follow your employer's safety program.
Who pays for safety gear?
Under OSHA's construction rule, employers generally must provide required PPE at no cost, with exceptions such as ordinary safety-toe boots and prescription safety glasses that you can wear off the job. Ask your employer what they supply.