How to Become an Electrician in Jenkins Kentucky
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Jenkins KY. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications 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 other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Jenkins KY
There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Jenkins KY. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Kentucky technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Kentucky community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Kentucky institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Jenkins KY can perform a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Jenkins KY
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Jenkins KY are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Jenkins KY area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Jenkins KY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent 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 broader list 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Jenkins KY graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Jenkins KY area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Jenkins KY electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Jenkins home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Jenkins KY, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out 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 Jenkins KY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Jenkins KY area.
Jenkins, Kentucky
In autumn of 1911, the Consolidation Coal Company purchased the current location of Jenkins as part of a 100,000-acre tract of land in Pike, Letcher and Floyd counties from the Northern Coal and Coke Company. After the acquisition was finalized, plans were made to extend the Lexington and Eastern Railroad from Jackson to a town named McRoberts. The plans also included the establishment of the town of Jenkins for George C. Jenkins, one of the Consolidation Coal Company's directors.[3]
Because of the need of hundreds of homes and other structures, nine sawmills and two brickyards were erected. A dynamo was built to temporarily generate power for the houses. Next, a temporary narrow-gauge railroad was built over Pine Mountain from Glamorgan, Virginia in order to carry supplies to further the development of the town.[3] Jenkins's city government was established as soon as the businesses and land were put up for sale. The company even went as far to supply the town with its own marshals to enforce the law.[3] Jenkins was finally incorporated as a sixth-class city on January 9, 1912.[4]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 2,401 people, 968 households, and 671 families residing in the city. The population density was 281.2 people per square mile (108.6/km²). There were 1,122 housing units at an average density of 131.4 per square mile (50.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.96% White, 1.08% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.
Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Jenkins KY
Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction 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 offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Jenkins KY.
Other Cool Cities in Kentucky
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
6 Reviews 