How to Become an Electrician in Logan Kansas
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Logan KS. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must 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 influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover 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, Certificate and Diploma Options near Logan KS
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Logan KS. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Kansas technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided 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 begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Kansas colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Logan KS can undertake a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Logan KS
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Logan KS are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Logan KS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Logan KS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of 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 of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Logan KS grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Logan KS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Logan KS electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Logan residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Logan KS, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Logan KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Logan KS area.
Logan, Kansas
Logan is located at 39°39′44″N 99°34′16″W / 39.66222°N 99.57111°W / 39.66222; -99.57111 (39.662269, -99.571160).[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.51 square miles (3.91 km2), all land.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 589 people, 261 households, and 169 families residing in the city. The population density was 390.1 inhabitants per square mile (150.6/km2). There were 311 housing units at an average density of 206.0 per square mile (79.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.3% White, 0.5% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 261 households of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.2% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.85.
Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Logan KS
Picking the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Logan KS.
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