How to Become an Electrician in Ellis Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Ellis KS. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to examine. For example, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Ellis KS
There are several ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Ellis KS. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Kansas vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Kansas community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Kansas colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Ellis KS can perform a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Ellis KS
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting costs from Ellis KS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Ellis KS region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Ellis KS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some 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 considering 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 could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may mean 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 Ellis KS grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Ellis KS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Ellis KS electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Ellis home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Ellis KS, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ellis KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Ellis KS area.
Ellis, Kansas
The Kansas Pacific Railway built a water station at the site of present-day Ellis in 1867 and then purchased the site under the Homestead Act. Three years later, in 1870, the U.S. Post Office Department opened a post office at Ellis, marking the town's foundation.[6] Kansas Pacific laid out the town in 1873, establishing a depot, a hotel, and a few shops.[7] That same year, settlers from Syracuse, New York, and later from Louisville, Kentucky, arrived to work for the railroad.[8] The first church opened in Ellis in 1873, the first school in 1874. Starting in 1875 and for the rest of the 1870s, Ellis was a cowtown, serving as a shipping point for cattle herds from the south.[6]Bukovina Germans began settling in the area in 1886.[9] Ellis incorporated as a city in January 1888.[6]
Ellis is located at 38°56′10″N 99°33′33″W / 38.93611°N 99.55917°W / 38.93611; -99.55917 (38.936211, -99.559269),[10] at an elevation of 2,119 feet (646 m).[4] Located in northwestern Kansas on Interstate 70, Ellis is 13 miles (21 km) west-northwest of Hays, the county seat.[11] It is approximately 146 miles (235 km) northwest of Wichita and 260 miles (420 km) west of Kansas City.[12]
Ellis lies on the western edge of the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.[13]Big Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill River, runs east through the city and has been dammed to form a long, narrow reservoir, Big Creek Lake.[6][14]
Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Ellis KS
Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Ellis KS.
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