Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lewistown MT 59457

How to Become an Electrician in Lewistown Montana

Lewistown MT electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lewistown MT. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Lewistown MT

Lewistown MT electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lewistown MT. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Montana trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Montana community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Montana institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Lewistown MT electricians working on power linesElectricians in Lewistown MT can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method 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 numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Lewistown MT

attending electrician school online in Lewistown MTAn option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Lewistown MT are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Lewistown MT electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lewistown MT area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed 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 while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Lewistown MT program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified 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 mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Lewistown MT graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Lewistown MT area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Lewistown MT electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lewistown residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased 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 challenging in bigger 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. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lewistown MT, check that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lewistown MT?

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

Lewistown, Montana

Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States.[5] The population was 5,901 at the 2010 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls. First planned in 1882, it was the site of an 1880s gold rush.

The area that is now Lewistown was once the territory of the Blackfoot Native Americans. In 1874, Fort Lewis was established there by Company "F" of the 7th U.S. Infantry to provide military protection for people traveling on the Carroll Trail, then the shortest route between Carroll, Montana and Helena. Lewistown is named after this fort.[6]

The first permanent settlers of Lewistown were Métis. The Metis established Lewistown in 1879.[7] Pierre Berger is credited with being the founder of Lewistown. Berger, along with his wife Judith Wilkie Berger, son Isadore Berger, Isaie Berger, Jean Baptiste Berger and Jacques Berger, as well as several other families made the trek into the Lewistown area in 1879. Francis Janeaux came with the second group. Janeaux founded the first public school house in 1883. This date is considered the official "founding" of Lewistown. Lewistown became an incorporated city in 1899.

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Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Lewistown MT

Picking the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lewistown MT.

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