How to Become an Electrician in Oakland Iowa
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Oakland IA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Oakland IA
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Oakland IA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Iowa vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Iowa community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Iowa colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Oakland IA can undertake a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Oakland IA
A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Oakland IA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Oakland IA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Oakland IA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also signify that the instructors 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Oakland IA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Oakland IA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Oakland IA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Oakland home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Oakland IA, check that the schools 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. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oakland IA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Oakland IA area.
Oakland, Iowa
Oakland is a city located along the West Nishnabotna River in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,527 at the 2010 census. Formerly named Big Grove, Oakland is home to Nishna Heritage Museum.
As of the 2010 census,[2] there were 1,527 people, 604 households, and 407 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,075.4 inhabitants per square mile (415.2/km2). There were 657 housing units at an average density of 462.7 per square mile (178.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.7% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.
There were 604 households, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.
Choose the Right Electrical Trade School near Oakland IA
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Oakland IA.
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