How to Become an Electrician in Dexter Iowa
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Dexter IA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Dexter IA
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Dexter IA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Iowa technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Iowa community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Iowa institutions, but are less preferred at four 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. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Dexter IA can undertake a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 trade school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Dexter IA
An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Dexter IA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Dexter IA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Dexter IA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Dexter IA grads 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 schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Dexter IA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Dexter IA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Dexter residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Dexter IA, check that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dexter IA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Dexter IA area.
Dexter, Iowa
Dexter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 611 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Dexter was named after the famous trotting horse Dexter.
The city is famous for being the site of a July 23, 1933, shootout between members of the Barrow gang and police from as far away as Des Moines.[5][6] On September 18, 1948, Dexter was the site of a national plowing match at which President Harry Truman delivered a speech attacking the 80th Congress for its record in regard to the American farmer. This speech is considered one of the most important of his 1948 Whistle Stop campaign that turned the tide of the election and returned him to the White House.[6][7][8][9][10]"
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 611 people, 257 households, and 178 families residing in the city. The population density was 260.0 inhabitants per square mile (100.4/km2). There were 284 housing units at an average density of 120.9 per square mile (46.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.
Find the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Dexter IA
Picking the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dexter IA.
Other Cool Cities in Iowa
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
1 Reviews 