How to Become an Electrician in Greenville Kentucky
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Greenville KY. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For example, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Greenville KY
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Greenville KY. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Kentucky trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Kentucky community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Kentucky colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Greenville KY can perform a multitude of functions, such as 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 mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Greenville KY
An option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Greenville KY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Greenville KY area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Greenville KY program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Greenville KY students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational 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 companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Greenville KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area 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, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Greenville KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Greenville home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Greenville KY, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Greenville KY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Greenville KY area.
Greenville, Kentucky
The town was settled in 1799 on an estate donated by local landowner William Campbell in order to establish a seat of government for a new county. Greenville was not established by the state assembly until 1812, however.[3] It was incorporated as a city in 1848.[4]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 4,398 people, 1,859 households, and 1,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 921.7 people per square mile (356.0/km²). There were 2,047 housing units at an average density of 429.0 per square mile (165.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.88% White, 8.75% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 1,859 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.
Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Greenville KY
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Greenville KY.
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