Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Watertown NY 13601

How to Become an Electrician in Watertown New York

Watertown NY electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Watertown NY. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Watertown NY

Watertown NY electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Watertown NY. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by New York technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by New York community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some New York institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Watertown NY electricians working on power linesElectricians in Watertown NY can carry out a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Watertown NY

attending electrician school online in Watertown NYAn option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Watertown NY are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Watertown NY electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Watertown NY area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Watertown NY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Watertown NY graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Watertown NY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Watertown NY electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Watertown residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Watertown NY, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Watertown NY?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Watertown NY area.

Watertown (city), New York

Watertown is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023,[4] an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S. Army post Fort Drum is near the city.

Named after the many falls on the Black River, the city developed early in the 19th century as a manufacturing center. From years of generating industrial wealth, in the early 20th century the city was said to have more millionaires per capita than any other city in the nation.

Geographically, Watertown is located in the central part of Jefferson County. It lies 70 miles (110 km) north of Syracuse and 31 miles (50 km) south of the Ontario border. The city is served by Watertown International Airport.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Watertown NY

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Watertown NY.

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