How to Become an Electrician in El Dorado Kansas
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near El Dorado KS. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near El Dorado KS
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near El Dorado KS. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Kansas vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly 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 comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Kansas institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in El Dorado KS can undertake a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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 imperative that the electrician trade 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 take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in El Dorado KS
An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means 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 receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from El Dorado KS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the El Dorado KS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the El Dorado KS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help El Dorado KS graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with El Dorado KS area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local El Dorado KS electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your El Dorado residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult 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 instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near El Dorado KS, verify that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make 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 emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near El Dorado KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the El Dorado KS area.
El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado (/ˌɛldəˈreɪdoʊ/ ( listen)[7]EL-də-RAY-doh) is city and county seat of Butler County, Kansas, United States. It is situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County and located in south-central Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021.[8]
In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado; in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City.[11] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.[12] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield, and Arkansas City.
In 1915, the El Dorado Oil Field was the first oil field that was found using science/geologic mapping, and part of the Mid-Continent oil province. By 1918, the El Dorado Oil Field was the largest single field producer in the USA, and was responsible for 12.8% of national oil production and 9% of the world production. It was deemed by some as "the oil field that won World War I".[13][14][15]
Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near El Dorado KS
Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in El Dorado KS.
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