How to Become an Electrician in Hanover Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Hanover KS. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Hanover KS
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Hanover KS. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Kansas vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Kansas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Kansas institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many 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, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Hanover KS can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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 delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Hanover KS
An option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Hanover KS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Hanover KS area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Hanover KS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate 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 considering 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 might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Hanover KS grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical 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 inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Hanover KS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Hanover KS electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Hanover home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Hanover KS, verify that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Hanover KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Hanover KS area.
Hanover, Kansas
Hanover is a city in Washington County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 682;[7] as of 2014, it was estimated to have decreased to 665.[8] It is the second most populous town within Washington County.
The city is primarily agricultural, and the surrounding countryside is filled with small family farms. The Hanover area is also a popular destination for deer hunting. Named after Hanover, Germany, the town is a traditional German community with strong German cultural influences. The local area is home to numerous other German communities such as Hollenberg, Hermansburg, Frankfort, and Bremen.
The "Hollenberg Station" became an important hub along the way for Pony Express travelers and Geret Hollenberg eventually established a grocery and stage depot on his farm in 1858.[9] The Hollenberg farm housed nine boarding rooms, and the success of "Hollenberg Station" as a business attracted more people to the area and many settled alongside the Hollengbergs in the decade leading up to the establishment of Hanover.[10]
Choose the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Hanover KS
Picking the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hanover KS.
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