How to Become an Electrician in Greensburg Kansas
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Greensburg KS. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Greensburg KS
There are multiple ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Greensburg KS. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Kansas vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Kansas colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Greensburg KS can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Greensburg KS
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Greensburg KS are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Greensburg KS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Greensburg KS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Greensburg KS grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Greensburg KS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Greensburg KS electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Greensburg residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Greensburg KS, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Greensburg KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Greensburg KS area.
Greensburg, Kansas
Greensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kiowa County, Kansas, United States.[1] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 777,[5] and before the tornado, in 2000 the population was 1,544.
In the evening of May 4, 2007, Greensburg was devastated by an EF5 tornado that traveled rapidly through the area, leveling at least 95 percent of the city and killing eleven people between the ages of 46 and 84.[6][7][8][9][10]
Greensburg today stands as a model "green town", often described as the greenest in America. The hospital, city hall, and school have all been built to the highest certification level issued by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Greensburg is also home to the world's largest hand-dug well.
Select the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Greensburg KS
Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin 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 schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Greensburg KS.
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