Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Midway KY 40347

How to Become an Electrician in Midway Kentucky

Midway KY electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Midway KY. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Midway KY

Midway KY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Midway KY. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Kentucky trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter 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 furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Kentucky institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Midway KY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Midway KY can carry out a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Midway KY

attending electrician school online in Midway KY An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Midway KY are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Midway KY electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Midway KY area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools 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 a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Midway KY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train 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 graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Midway KY grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Midway KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Midway KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Midway home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees 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 monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Midway KY, check that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Midway KY?

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

Midway, Kentucky

Midway is a home rule-class city[3] in Woodford County, Kentucky, in the United States. Its population was 1,620 at the time of the year 2000 U.S. census. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town is home to a major thoroughbred race horse breeding operation, the Three Chimneys Farm. In 2003, faced with a declining downtown, a major streetscape renovation project began as part of Main Street Kentucky.[clarification needed] New period structures and lighting brought new life to the town.

The present city began as a small settlement known as Stevenson's at the time of its first post office in 1832.[5] On January 31, 1835, the local farmer John Francisco sold his 216.375-acre (87.564 ha) farm to the Lexington and Ohio Railroad for $6,491.25. The railroad then used the land to establish Kentucky's first railroad town, naming it Middleway for its location relative to Lexington and Frankfort, Kentucky.[5] (The town is also equidistant between Versailles and Georgetown.) The major streets of Midway were named in honor of the railroad's original officials.[4] It was renamed Midway in 1837.[5]

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Midway KY

Selecting the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect 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, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Midway KY.