How to Become an Electrician in Austin Indiana
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Austin IN. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Austin IN
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Austin IN. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Indiana vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Indiana community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Indiana institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Austin IN can undertake a vast array of tasks, 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 mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Austin IN
An option that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Austin IN are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Austin IN area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Austin IN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also 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 result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Austin IN students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Austin IN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Austin IN electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Austin home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Austin IN, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Austin IN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Austin IN area.
Jane Austin
Select the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Austin IN
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Austin IN.
Other Cool Cities in Indiana
Business Results 1 - 10 of 4
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
16 Reviews 
1 Reviews 