Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Huntley MT 59037

How to Become an Electrician in Huntley Montana

Huntley MT electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Huntley MT. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have located a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Huntley MT

Huntley MT electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Huntley MT. You may enroll in 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. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Montana vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Montana junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Montana colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Huntley MT electricians working on power lines Electricians in Huntley MT can undertake a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Huntley MT

attending electrician school online in Huntley MT An option that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Huntley MT are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Huntley MT electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Huntley MT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Huntley MT school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Huntley MT students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Huntley MT area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Huntley MT electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Huntley residence. Remember 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 get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 at night or on weekends near Huntley MT, verify that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Huntley MT?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Huntley MT area.

Huntley, Montana

Huntley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yellowstone County, Montana, United States. The population was 411 at the 2000 census. Huntley lent its name to the Huntley Project, a federal irrigation project that began delivering water to the arid district in 1907. Today, Huntley is an eastern suburb of Billings and is located east of Shepherd and west of Worden.

This settlement in arid Crow Indian country was named for S.O. Huntley, a partner in the stagecoach firm of Clark & Huntley. It was located at the head of navigation on the Yellowstone River. The first steamboat, the packet Josephine, arrived June 6, 1875, but river trade was infrequent. A U.S. post office was established in March 1878. The 1880 Census found only 37 people living in Huntley.

Surveying for a railroad led to the so-called "Baker Battle" between Sioux Indians and Army engineers in 1872. The Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1882, connecting the town to the new city of Billings. Three years later the town called "Huntley Station" had two stores, a hotel, and a blacksmith. German immigrants were prominent among the new settlers, who established Lutheran and German Methodist churches.

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Pick the Right Electrical Vocational School near Huntley MT

Choosing the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different 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 faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Huntley MT.