đ¨ Comparison Chart: Certified Thermal Electrician⢠vs. Traditional Thermography Courses
Certified Thermal Electrician⢠vs. Traditional Thermography Courses
This comparison chart highlights why the Certified Thermal Electrician⢠Program from Electrical Code Academy, Inc. is the most focused and relevant thermal imaging certification for electricians and electrical contractors.
| Feature / Requirement | Certified Thermal Electrician⢠(Electrical Code Academy, Inc.) | FLIR ITC / Snell / Infrared Training Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Feature / RequirementDesigned specifically for electricians | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â YES â 100% electrical industry focused | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ No â generic thermography for all industries |
| Feature / RequirementNEC-based thermal requirements | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Includes NEC 110.14(C), 240, 250, 310, 408, 410, 430, 700, etc. | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Not covered â no NEC instruction |
| Feature / RequirementNFPA 70B electrical maintenance integration | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Fully aligned with NFPA 70B requirements | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Limited or general coverage only |
| Feature / RequirementElectrical failure modes | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Load issues, torque, insulation types, emissivity, terminations | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Mostly mechanical & building envelope examples |
| Feature / RequirementReal electrical field scenarios | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Panels, breakers, lugs, feeders, transformers | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Not electrical-specific |
| Feature / RequirementReport templates | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Custom electrical thermography templates | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Generic templates for all industries |
| Feature / RequirementField exercises | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Real electrical inspections performed by student | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Basic exercises, not electrical-specific |
| Feature / RequirementInstructor expertise | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Taught by Paul Abernathy â NEC Code Panel Member | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Instructors are thermographers, not NEC experts |
| Feature / RequirementAccreditation required? | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â No accreditation required â industry standard | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Also not accredited â same rules apply |
| Feature / RequirementCertification title | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘Certified Thermal Electrician⢠(exclusive) | FLIR / Snell / ITCThermography Level I, II, III (generic) |
| Feature / RequirementCourse format | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Online training + field assignments | FLIR / Snell / ITCâ Mostly in-person classroom training |
| Feature / RequirementBest for | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘Electricians, contractors, inspectors, engineers | FLIR / Snell / ITCGeneral thermographers across many industries |
| Feature / RequirementPrice | Certified Thermal Electricianâ˘â Much lower while specialized | FLIR / Snell / ITC$1,900â$2,800 typical |
