How to Become an Electrician in Cumberland Kentucky
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Cumberland KY. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many points to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Cumberland KY
There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Cumberland KY. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Kentucky vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Kentucky junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Kentucky colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Cumberland KY can perform a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Cumberland KY
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Cumberland KY are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Cumberland KY area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Cumberland KY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Cumberland KY students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Cumberland KY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Cumberland KY electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Cumberland home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Cumberland KY, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Cumberland KY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Cumberland KY area.
Cumberland, Kentucky
Cumberland was settled in 1837 and named "Poor Fork", for its location on a fork of the Cumberland River with relatively poor soil.[4] It remained isolated until the coal mining boom of the 1900s when railroads connected it with surrounding towns. It was renamed "Cumberland" in 1926.
Cumberland is located in northeastern Harlan County at 36°58′37″N 82°59′15″W / 36.97694°N 82.98750°W / 36.97694; -82.98750 (36.977016, -82.987434)[5] in the valley of the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River, where it is joined by Looney Creek from the southeast and Cloverlick Creek from the south. The city limits extend to the north up to the crest of Pine Mountain, which forms the Letcher County line. Elevations within the city range from 1,400 feet (430 m) above sea level along the Poor Fork on the west side of town to 2,700 feet (820 m) atop Pine Mountain.
U.S. Route 119 passes through Cumberland, passing south of the city center. US 119 leads northeast 34 miles (55 km) to Jenkins and southwest 22 miles (35 km) to Harlan, the Harlan County seat. Kentucky Route 160 passes through the center of Cumberland, leading southeast 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to Benham and 12 miles (19 km) to the Virginia border, and north over Pine Mountain 5 miles (8 km) to Gordon.
Enroll in the Right Electrical Technical School near Cumberland KY
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Cumberland KY.
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