How to Become an Electrician in Dubois Indiana
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Dubois IN. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Dubois IN
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Dubois IN. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Indiana technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Indiana community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Indiana institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Dubois IN can perform a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding 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 vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Dubois IN
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling expenses from Dubois IN are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Dubois IN region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Dubois IN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Dubois IN grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Dubois IN area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Dubois IN electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Dubois home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger 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 instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Dubois IN, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dubois IN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Dubois IN area.
Dubois
Pick the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Dubois IN
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things 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 considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dubois IN.
Other Cool Cities in Indiana
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
4 Reviews 
1 Reviews 