How to Become an Electrician in Wickliffe Kentucky
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Wickliffe KY. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Wickliffe KY
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Wickliffe KY. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Kentucky technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete 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 readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Kentucky colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Wickliffe KY can carry out a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 3 levels of competency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Wickliffe KY
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually 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, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Wickliffe KY are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Wickliffe KY area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Wickliffe KY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified 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 directory of graduates, which may 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 a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Wickliffe KY students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Wickliffe KY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Wickliffe KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Wickliffe home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Wickliffe KY, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Wickliffe KY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Wickliffe KY area.
Wickliffe, Kentucky
The city of Wickliffe is the site of a Mississippian culture village now known only as Wickliffe Mounds. The village was occupied from around 1100-1300 AD. Today, Wickliffe Mounds is a state historic site and home to a research center and museum.
In 1780 during the Revolutionary War, General George Rogers Clark established Fort Jefferson on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River one mile south of present-day Wickliffe. The fort was intended to protect what was then the western boundary of the infant United States from raids by the British Army and Native Americans. It was abandoned in 1781 after a siege by the Chickasaw.
The site later served as a Union Army post during the Civil War. General Ulysses S. Grant directed a demonstration against the Confederate-held position at Columbus, Kentucky, in January 1862. Troops from the post joined in capturing Fort Henry in February 1862. It served as a Union supply post for operations in the western theater of the war.
Find the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Wickliffe KY
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Wickliffe KY.
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