Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Frankfort KY 40601

How to Become an Electrician in Frankfort Kentucky

Frankfort KY electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Frankfort KY. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Frankfort KY

Frankfort KY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Frankfort KY. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Kentucky vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Kentucky junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Kentucky institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Frankfort KY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Frankfort KY can carry out a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:

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 important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Frankfort KY

attending electrician school online in Frankfort KY An option that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Frankfort KY are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Frankfort KY electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Frankfort KY area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Frankfort KY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course 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 complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Frankfort KY graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Frankfort KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art 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 under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Frankfort KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Frankfort residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Frankfort KY, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Frankfort KY?

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

Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the seat of Franklin County.[2] It is a home rule-class city[3] in Kentucky; the population was 25,527 at the 2010 census. Located along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the principal city of the Frankfort, Kentucky Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Franklin and Anderson counties.

The town of Frankfort likely received its name from an event that took place in the 1780s. American Indians attacked a group of early European-American pioneers from Bryan Station, who were making salt at a ford in the Kentucky River. Pioneer Stephen Frank was killed, and the settlers thereafter called the crossing "Frank's Ford." This name was later elided to Frankfort.[4]

In 1786, James Wilkinson purchased the 260-acre (1.1 km2) tract of land on the north side of the Kentucky River, which developed as downtown Frankfort. He was an early promoter of Frankfort as the state capital.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrician Vocational School near Frankfort KY

Picking the right electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program 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 education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Frankfort KY.