Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Covington KY 41011

How to Become an Electrician in Covington Kentucky

Covington KY electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Covington KY. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Covington KY

Covington KY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Covington KY. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Kentucky trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Kentucky junior or 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 begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Kentucky colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Covington KY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Covington KY can undertake a multitude of functions, including 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 become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Covington KY

attending electrician school online in Covington KY A possibility that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Covington KY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Covington KY electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Covington KY region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Covington KY program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Covington KY grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Covington KY area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Covington KY electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Covington home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Covington KY, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check 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 Covington KY?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Covington KY area.

Covington, Kentucky

Covington is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers. Cincinnati, Ohio, lies to its north across the Ohio and Newport, Kentucky, to its east across the Licking. Part of the Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky metropolitan area, Covington had a population of 40,640 at the time of the 2010 U.S. census, making it the fifth-most populous city in Kentucky.[2] It is one of its county's two seats,[3] along with Independence.

The initial American settlement at Covington was known as The Point, from its position at the confluence of the Licking and Ohio Rivers. When it was laid out in 1815, it was named in honor of Gen. Leonard Covington,[4] who was killed at the Battle of Crysler's Farm during the War of 1812.[5]

In 1814, John Gano, Richard Gano, and Thomas Carneal purchased The Point, 150 acres (0.6 km2) of land on the west side of the Licking River at its confluence with the Ohio, from Thomas Kennedy for $50,000, and laid out the settlement of Covington the next year.[6] The town was formally incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly a year later[citation needed] and raised to city status in 1834.[5]

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Covington KY

Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, 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 ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Covington KY.