Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lafayette IN 47901

How to Become an Electrician in Lafayette Indiana

Lafayette IN electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lafayette IN. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also critical 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 cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Lafayette IN

Lafayette IN electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lafayette IN. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Indiana vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Indiana junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Indiana colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Lafayette IN electricians working on power linesElectricians in Lafayette IN can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of competency:

  • 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 select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Lafayette IN

attending electrician school online in Lafayette INAn option that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Lafayette IN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Lafayette IN electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lafayette IN region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned 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 chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician vocational schools have attained 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, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Lafayette IN program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce 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 Lafayette IN graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Lafayette IN area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lafayette IN electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Lafayette home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lafayette IN, check that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lafayette IN?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lafayette IN area.

Lafayette

The location could not be found.

Find the Right Electrical Tech School near Lafayette IN

Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should 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 type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Lafayette IN.

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