The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Sequim WA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover 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 offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Sequim WA

There are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Sequim WA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.

• Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Washington trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are provided by Washington junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Washington colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Electricians in Sequim WA can carry out a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as 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 offered differ by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 levels of proficiency:

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

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Sequim WA

A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Sequim WA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Sequim WA region, 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 needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Sequim WA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Sequim WA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Sequim WA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Sequim WA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Sequim home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Sequim WA, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Sequim WA?

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

Find the Right Electrical Technical School near Sequim WA

Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Sequim WA.

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