Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ankeny IA 50015

How to Become an Electrician in Ankeny Iowa

Ankeny IA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Ankeny IA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Ankeny IA

Ankeny IA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Ankeny IA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Iowa technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Iowa junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Iowa colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Ankeny IA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Ankeny IA can undertake a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess 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 skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 levels of proficiency:

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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Ankeny IA

attending electrician school online in Ankeny IA An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Ankeny IA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Ankeny IA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Ankeny IA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have acquired 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 a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Ankeny IA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also indicate 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 mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Ankeny IA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Ankeny IA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Ankeny IA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Ankeny residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise 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 are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Ankeny IA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ankeny IA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Ankeny IA area.

Ankeny, Iowa

Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States and home to Des Moines Area Community College. Ankeny is a rapidly growing suburb located just north of Des Moines, Iowa’s capital city. Ankeny covers approximately 33 square miles and has a population of 65,000. The U.S. Census Bureau recently named Ankeny the fastest growing city in the Midwest and the 4th fastest growing city in the United States. Ankeny is the 9th largest city in Iowa.

The population was 45,562 in the 2010 census, an increase of 68% from the 27,117 population in the 2000 census.[4][5] Ankeny is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the most affluent cities in all of Iowa.

Ankeny was founded by John and Sarah Ankeny in 1875 and was incorporated on February 28, 1903.[6] A railroad link from Des Moines through Ankeny to Ames was completed in 1874 and passenger service established in 1880.[6]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Ankeny IA

Picking the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Ankeny IA.