Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Las Vegas NV 89101

How to Become an Electrician in Las Vegas Nevada

Las Vegas NV electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Las Vegas NV. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Las Vegas NV

Las Vegas NV electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Las Vegas NV. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Nevada vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Nevada junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Nevada colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Las Vegas NV electricians working on power lines Electricians in Las Vegas NV can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations 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 tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Las Vegas NV

attending electrician school online in Las Vegas NV An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Las Vegas NV are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Las Vegas NV electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Las Vegas NV area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Las Vegas NV program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Las Vegas NV graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Las Vegas NV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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 specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Las Vegas NV electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Las Vegas home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Las Vegas NV, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out 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 Las Vegas NV?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Las Vegas NV area.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas (/lɑːs ˈveɪɡəsˌ lɑːz ˈveɪɡəs/, Spanish for "The Meadows"; Spanish: [laz ˈβeɣas]), officially the City of Las Vegas and often known simply as Vegas, is the 28th-most populated city in the United States, the most populated city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area and is the largest city within the greater Mojave Desert.[6] Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The Las Vegas Valley as a whole serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for Nevada.

The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its mega casino–hotels and associated activities. It is a top three destination in the United States for business conventions and a global leader in the hospitality industry, claiming more AAA Five Diamond hotels than any other city in the world.[7][8][9] Today, Las Vegas annually ranks as one of the world's most visited tourist destinations.[10][11] The city's tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature, films, television programs, and music videos.

Las Vegas was settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911. At the close of the 20th century, it was the most populated American city founded within that century (a similar distinction earned by Chicago in the 1800s). Population growth has accelerated since the 1960s, and between 1990 and 2000 the population nearly doubled, increasing by 85.2%. Rapid growth has continued into the 21st century, and according to a 2017 estimate, the population is 648,224[12] with a regional population of 2,248,390.[4]

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Tech School near Las Vegas NV

Picking the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered 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 must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Las Vegas NV.