How to Become an Electrician in Miles City Montana
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Miles City MT. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Miles City MT
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Miles City MT. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Montana trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Montana junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Montana institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Miles City MT can undertake a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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 important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Miles City MT
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Miles City MT are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Miles City MT area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have earned 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 an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Miles City MT program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate 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 complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Miles City MT grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Miles City MT area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art 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 under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Miles City MT electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Miles City home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Miles City MT, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Miles City MT?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Miles City MT area.
Miles City, Montana
After the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, the U.S. Army created forts in eastern Montana, including one where the north-flowing Tongue River flowed into the east-flowing Yellowstone River. The first fort was known as the Tongue River Cantonment or the Tongue River Barracks and was founded on August 27, 1876. A second, permanent fort was constructed on higher ground two miles to the west of the mouth of the Tongue and this became Fort Keogh.
Fort Keogh (named after Captain Myles Keogh, one of the battle dead, whose horse, Comanche, was the lone survivor of Custer's command) started as a few rough winter cabins, but grew into a moderate sized western fort, from which its commander, General Nelson A. Miles, effectively brought the remaining "uncontrolled" Native Americans into subjugation during the last decade of the 1800s.[5]
Nelson Miles said that "whiskey caused him more trouble than the Indians" and, after tiring of drunken soldiers causing problems during the winter campaign, evicted the sutlers who provided "liquid stock" in the spring of 1877. Moving two miles due east of the Tongue River Cantonment, these early merchants founded the first Miles City. Although fondly referred to as "Milestown," the first post office and first official plat both called the town "Miles City." When the old cantonment moved two miles west, the town literally picked up and followed, moving to the current site. The last occupants of Old Miles City stayed on until 1900 but the new community was the one that grew.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Miles City MT
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every 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. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Miles City MT.
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