How to Become an Electrician in Lewiston Nebraska
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lewiston NE. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Lewiston NE
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lewiston NE. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Nebraska technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Nebraska community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Nebraska colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Lewiston NE can perform a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Lewiston NE
An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Lewiston NE are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lewiston NE area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Lewiston NE school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lewiston NE students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction 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 contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Lewiston NE area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides 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 up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Lewiston NE electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lewiston residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lewiston NE, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lewiston NE?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Lewiston NE area.
Lewiston, Nebraska
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 68 people, 30 households, and 15 families residing in the village. The population density was 680.0 inhabitants per square mile (262.5/km2). There were 37 housing units at an average density of 370.0 per square mile (142.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.5% White and 1.5% African American.
There were 30 households of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.0% were non-families. 43.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.27.
The median age in the village was 37 years. 32.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 17.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 52.9% male and 47.1% female.
Choose the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Lewiston NE
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important 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 examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lewiston NE.
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