How to Become an Electrician in Parishville New York
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Parishville NY. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified 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 sole qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Parishville NY
There are several ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Parishville NY. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by New York trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by New York junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New York colleges, but are less preferred 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 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Parishville NY can carry out a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Parishville NY
An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. 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 entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Parishville NY are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Parishville NY region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Parishville NY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Parishville NY grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Parishville NY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Parishville NY electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Parishville home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Parishville NY, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Parishville NY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Parishville NY area.
Parishville, New York
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 101.4 square miles (263 km2), of which, 98.2 square miles (254 km2) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) of it (3.20%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,049 people, 797 households, and 564 families residing in the town. The population density was 20.9 people per square mile (8.1/km²). There were 1,204 housing units at an average density of 12.3 per square mile (4.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.98% White, 0.05% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.[2]
There were 797 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.[2]
Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Parishville NY
Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select 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 Parishville NY.
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