How to Become an Electrician in Huntington Indiana
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Huntington IN. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Huntington IN
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Huntington IN. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Indiana vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are offered by Indiana community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Indiana colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Huntington IN can undertake a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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 crucial that the electrician vocational 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 Schools Online in Huntington IN
An option that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Huntington IN are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Huntington IN region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Huntington IN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified 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 broader directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Huntington IN graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Huntington IN area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies 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 working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Huntington IN electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Huntington residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving 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 instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out 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 assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Huntington IN, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Huntington IN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Huntington IN area.
Huntington
Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Huntington IN
Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different options 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 faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Huntington IN.
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