Tag Archives: Electrician Classes Near Me in Gig Harbor WA 98329

Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Gig Harbor WA 98329

How to Become an Electrician in Gig Harbor Washington

Gig Harbor WA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Gig Harbor WA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Gig Harbor WA

Gig Harbor WA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Gig Harbor WA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Washington vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Washington community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Washington institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Gig Harbor WA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Gig Harbor WA can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of competency:

  • An experience requirement
  • Passing a written exam
  • Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Gig Harbor WA

attending electrician school online in Gig Harbor WAAn option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Gig Harbor WA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Gig Harbor WA electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Gig Harbor WA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Gig Harbor WA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Gig Harbor WA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Gig Harbor WA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Gig Harbor WA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Gig Harbor home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Gig Harbor WA, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Gig Harbor WA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Gig Harbor WA area.

Gig Harbor, Washington

Gig Harbor is one of several cities and towns that claim to be "the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula". Due to its close access to several state and city parks, and historic waterfront that includes boutiques and fine dining, it has become a popular tourist destination. Gig Harbor is located along State Route 16, about six miles (10 km) from its origin at Interstate 5, over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.[6][7] A $1.2 billion project to add a second span to the bridge was completed in 2007.[8] From Gig Harbor, Tacoma can be reached in just under 20 minutes and Seattle in just under an hour.[9]

During a heavy storm in 1840, Captain Charles Wilkes brought the Captain's gig (small boat) into the harbor for protection.[10] Later, with the publication of Wilkes 1841 map of the Oregon Territory, he named the sheltered bay Gig Harbor.

Gig Harbor was officially incorporated on July 12, 1946. Commercial fishing, boat building and logging dominated the economy until the construction of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. Until then, the primary method of transportation between Gig Harbor and the economic center of nearby Tacoma was by steamship. Starting in 1836 steamships started plying the waters of Puget Sound and quickly developed into what was eventually dubbed "The Mosquito Fleet." Gig Harbor, isolated from Tacoma and Seattle by Puget Sound and the Tacoma Narrows, could not be reached by automobile or horseback except by a very long and arduous trip south around Puget Sound and Hammersly Inlet. The boom was to be short lived as the first bridge collapsed just months after it was completed. The resource demands of World War II prevented another bridge from being built until 1950. Between the time when the first bridge collapsed and when the second bridge was completed, a state run ferry service delivered drivers directly into downtown Gig Harbor. Remains of the ferry dock can still be seen just outside the mouth of the harbor at the southeast end of Harborview Drive. The area has been turned into a small park, where the public can see a panoramic view of the Cascade Mountains, Point Defiance and Mount Rainier.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Gig Harbor WA

Picking the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Gig Harbor WA.

Other Cool Cities in Washington

  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Granite Falls WA 98252
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Kittitas WA 98934
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Port Townsend WA 98368
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ridgefield WA 98642
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Mattawa WA 99349
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Cle Elum WA 98922
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Parker WA 98939
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Oakesdale WA 99158
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Brinnon WA 98320
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in South Bend WA 98586
  •  

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 274

    Narrows Electric
    9 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment, Generator Installation/Repair
    Phone:
    3509 57th St Ct NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335

    Synergy electric + technology
    2 Reviews
    Electricians, Home Theatre Installation, Home Automation
    Phone:
    6714 77th Ave Ct NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335

    Puget Sound Electric Company
    6 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    2661 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407

    Dependable Electric, LLC
    30 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    9330 S Steele St, Unit 2, Tacoma, WA 98444

    Go Hawk Electric
    16 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment, TV Mounting
    Phone:
    Federal Way, WA 98003

    D & A Electric
    2 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    33410 30th Ave SW, Federal Way, WA 98023

    George's Electric
    9 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    9992 Sidney Rd SW, Port Orchard, WA 98367

    Safe and Sound Electric
    9 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment
    Phone:
    1281 Sylvan Way, Ste 2621, Bremerton, WA 98310

    People's Electric
    13 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Tacoma, WA 98417

    G3 Electrical Services Inc
    2 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    5114 Pt Fosdick Dr NW, Ste E50, Gig Harbor, WA 98335