How to Become an Electrician in Humboldt Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Humboldt KS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Humboldt KS
There are several ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Humboldt KS. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Kansas technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Kansas colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Humboldt KS can perform a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Humboldt KS
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving expenses from Humboldt KS are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Humboldt KS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed 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 variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Humboldt KS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Humboldt KS graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most 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 within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Humboldt KS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Humboldt KS electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Humboldt residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Humboldt KS, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Humboldt KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Humboldt KS area.
Humboldt, Kansas
Humboldt, named after Baron von Humboldt, was founded in 1857.[7] Germans migrating from Hartford, Connecticut, began organizing a colony during the winter of 1856–57. They arrived in Lawrence, Kansas, in March 1857, and at the townsite on May 10, 1857. Orlin Thurston, a young attorney, moved to Humboldt during the summer of 1857 and put up a steam sawmill; he began sawing wood and building houses on the prairie side of town. The first frame building was erected by J.A. Coffey; and in May 1858, W.C. O'Brien opened the first gristmill in the county. The United Brethren Denomination erected the first church in 1859.[8]
In 1861 Humboldt was attacked by a collection of border ruffians and Osages led by John Mathews out of Oswego, Kansas who took several recently freed African-Americans back into captivity. The Humboldt Home Guard joined with the Kansas 6th Cavalry under James G. Blunt to counter-attack. In a battle on September. 18, 1861 Mathews was killed at Chetopa, Kansas.
The city was organized as a village in 1866 and incorporated as a city of the second class by the act of February 28, 1870. In October 1870 the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railway was run through Humboldt;[9] the railway is currently a short line owned by BNSF Railway.
Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Humboldt KS
Picking the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend 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, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Humboldt KS.
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