LEWISTOWN — Whether you’re a construction professional wanting to brush up on the skills of your trade or a do-it-yourself handyman looking to increase your skill set, the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology has a basic skills class for you.

Electrical Installation 101 is a new class being offered by the Academy, which is looking to offer “more short-term programs,” said Mike McMonigal, supervisor of Adult and Post-Secondary Education at the Academy, 700 Pitt St., Lewistown. “These types of classes allow people to choose their own adventure.

“They can come in and learn a basic skill. The next time, they can come back and take it a step further,” he added. “We wanted to make it more user-friendly for the working individual.”

Which is why it is being offered at night. The Electrical Installation 101 class is part of the Academy’s new contractor training series. This encourages more contractors to look at the Mifflin and Juniata counties home rehab grant opportunities, McMonigal said.

“It’s really for the DIY-er who wants to safely do electrical work in the home, or the construction worker who wants to work safely and not get themselves in trouble,” he added.

One of the best parts of the class is that it’s offered for free. The $375 tuition fee is being waived thanks to a Whole-Home Repairs Program grant. This project was financed by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development.

“We want to use this as a springboard to our contractor training series,” McMonigal explained.

The electrical installation focuses on basic electrical wiring for homeowners. That includes:

• Electrical safety

• NEC requirements for residential wiring

• OHMAS law

• Basic hand tool identification

• Branch and small appliance circuit load calculations

• Types of household wires and boxes

• Basic connections for wire-nuts, splicing, etc.

• Lighting circuits

• Receptacle circuits

• Troubleshooting electrical circuits

Classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays for six weeks, starting Monday, Sept. 18. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 8.

Seating is very limited, so call (717) 248-3933 or visit www.theacademy.net to register.