How to Become an Electrician in Goddard Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Goddard KS. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Goddard KS
There are three general approaches to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Goddard KS. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Kansas trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Kansas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Kansas institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Goddard KS can carry out a vast array of tasks, 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 mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess 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 identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three 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 important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Goddard KS
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Goddard KS are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Goddard KS region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Goddard KS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Goddard KS grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Goddard KS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Goddard KS electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Goddard residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Goddard KS, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Goddard KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Goddard KS area.
Goddard, Kansas
In 1883, Ezekiel Wilder purchased farmland on the planned railway of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway south of Blendon, Kansas, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of Wichita.[5] There, he established the town of Goddard in honor of J. F. Goddard, former third vice-president of the ATSF Railway.[6][7] The railroad reached Goddard in 1884, and a post office was established there the same year. Several buildings were relocated from Blendon, including the town hall and the planned Methodist church. Goddard was officially incorporated in 1910. On June 23, 1969, an F4 tornado struck Goddard. No fatalities occurred, but six people were injured.[8]
Goddard is located at 37°39′35″N 97°34′27″W / 37.65972°N 97.57417°W / 37.65972; -97.57417 (37.659706, -97.574271)[9] at an elevation of 1,463 feet (446 m).[4] Goddard lies on U.S. Route 54 in south-central Kansas immediately west of Wichita.[10]
The community lies approximately 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the Arkansas River and 8 miles (13 km) north-northeast of the Ninnescah River in the Wellington-McPherson Lowlands region of the Great Plains.[10][11]
Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Goddard KS
Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Goddard KS.
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