Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Columbus KS 66725

How to Become an Electrician in Columbus Kansas

Columbus KS electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Columbus KS. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Columbus KS

Columbus KS electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Columbus KS. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Kansas technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Kansas colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Columbus KS electricians working on power lines Electricians in Columbus KS can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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 enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Columbus KS

attending electrician school online in Columbus KS An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Columbus KS are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Columbus KS electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn 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 Columbus KS region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. 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 important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Columbus KS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, 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 schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Columbus KS students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Columbus KS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Columbus KS electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Columbus residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors 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 assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Columbus KS, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out 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 Columbus KS?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Columbus KS area.

Columbus, Kansas

Columbus was a railroad junction for the Saint Louis and San Francisco, and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroads. It was named Columbus by A.L. Peters, one of the European-American founders, for his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; the name thus indirectly honors Christopher Columbus, the explorer.[9][10] Coal, lead and zinc were mined in the region. Columbus had a considerable trade in agricultural products, and its businesses included machine shops, grain elevators, flour mills, a cigar factory, bottle works (soft drinks), a canning factory, and an extensive brick-making plant.[11]

In 1875, Robert A. Long and Victor Bell formed the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus. From one lumberyard, Long-Bell expanded operations and holdings to become one of the largest vertically integrated lumber companies in the United States. In 1956 it was purchased by International Paper.[12]

Columbus is located at 37°10′17″N 94°50′27″W / 37.17139°N 94.84083°W / 37.17139; -94.84083 (37.171379, -94.840704).[13] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.42 square miles (6.27 km2), all of it land.[2]

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Find the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Columbus KS

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch 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 schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller 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 current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Columbus KS.