Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Fountain CO 80817

How to Become an Electrician in Fountain Colorado

Fountain CO electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Fountain CO. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Fountain CO

Fountain CO electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Fountain CO. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Colorado trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Colorado junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Colorado colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Fountain CO electricians working on power lines Electricians in Fountain CO can perform a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Fountain CO

attending electrician school online in Fountain CO An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Fountain CO are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Fountain CO electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Fountain CO region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Fountain CO program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Fountain CO grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Fountain CO area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Fountain CO electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Fountain home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher 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 larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers 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 fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Fountain CO, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Fountain CO?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Fountain CO area.

Fountain, Colorado

Fountain is located 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Colorado Springs and just east of Fort Carson. Fountain and the Colorado Springs suburbs Security and Widefield make up the "Fountain Valley" community.[10]

In 1999, Fountain was chosen as "America's Millennium City" by The New York Times.[13] Fountain was named an "All-America City" in 2002 by the National Civic League.[14] The city is the home of Pikes Peak International Raceway.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.0 square miles (62.2 km2), of which 24.0 square miles (62.1 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.15%, is water.[16] The eponymous Fountain Creek flows south through the city.

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Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Fountain CO

Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Fountain CO.