Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Reno NV 89501

How to Become an Electrician in Reno Nevada

Reno NV electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Reno NV. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about 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 offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Reno NV

Reno NV electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Reno NV. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Nevada trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Nevada 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 join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible 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 more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Reno NV electricians working on power lines Electricians in Reno NV can undertake a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure 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 municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes 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.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Reno NV

attending electrician school online in Reno NV An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Reno NV are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Reno NV electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Reno NV area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed 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 even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Reno NV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can result in 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Reno NV grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Reno NV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Reno NV electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Reno home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Reno NV, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be 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, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Reno NV?

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

Reno, Nevada

Reno (/ˈriːnoʊ/ REE-noh) is a city in the U.S. state of Nevada. It is in Northern Nevada, approximately 22 miles (35 km) from Lake Tahoe. Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World",[2] Reno is famous for its hotels and casinos and as the birthplace of Harrah's Entertainment (now known as Caesars Entertainment Corporation). It is the county seat of Washoe County, in the northwestern part of the state. The city sits in a high desert at the foot of the Sierra Nevada and its downtown area (along with Sparks) occupies a valley informally known as the Truckee Meadows. It is named after slain Union general Jesse L. Reno.

Reno is the most populous Nevada city outside the Las Vegas Valley, with an estimated population of 241,445 in 2015.[3] Reno is part of the Reno–Sparks metropolitan area, which consists of all of both Washoe and Storey counties and has a 2016 estimated population of 457,420.[4]

As early as the mid 1850s a few pioneers settled in the Truckee Meadows, a relatively fertile valley through which the Truckee River made its way from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. In addition to subsistence farming, these early residents could pick up business from travelers along the California Trail, which followed the Truckee westward, before branching off towards Donner Lake, where the formidable obstacle of the Sierra Nevada began.

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Reno NV

Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Reno NV.