How to Become an Electrician in Cummings Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Cummings KS. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Cummings KS
There are multiple options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Cummings KS. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Kansas trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Kansas junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Kansas institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Cummings KS can perform a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Cummings KS
An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Cummings KS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Cummings KS region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Cummings KS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Cummings KS graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together 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 electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Cummings KS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Cummings KS electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Cummings residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may 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 challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Cummings KS, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Cummings KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Cummings KS area.
Cummings, Kansas
Find the Right Electrical Tech School near Cummings KS
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Cummings KS.
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