How to Become an Electrician in Solomon Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Solomon KS. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Solomon KS
There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Solomon KS. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Kansas vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Kansas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Kansas institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Solomon KS can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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 important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Solomon KS
An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Solomon KS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Solomon KS region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed 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 while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Solomon KS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can result in 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help Solomon KS graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Solomon KS area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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 tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Solomon KS electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Solomon residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased 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 larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Solomon KS, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Solomon KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Solomon KS area.
Solomon, Kansas
Solomon is located at 38°55′7″N 97°22′11″W / 38.91861°N 97.36972°W / 38.91861; -97.36972 (38.918578, -97.369665).[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.85 square miles (2.20 km2), all of it land.[2]
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,095 people, 433 households, and 295 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,288.2 inhabitants per square mile (497.4/km2). There were 465 housing units at an average density of 547.1 per square mile (211.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.
There were 433 households of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
Pick the Right Electrician Trade School near Solomon KS
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Solomon KS.
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