Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Andover OH 44003

How to Become an Electrician in Andover Ohio

Andover OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Andover OH. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training 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 training options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Andover OH

Andover OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Andover OH. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Ohio vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are offered by Ohio junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Ohio institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Andover OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Andover OH can perform a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Andover OH

attending electrician school online in Andover OH An option that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Andover OH are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Andover OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Andover OH area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Andover OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also mean that the instructors 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 broader list of alumni, which may mean 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Andover OH grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade 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 considering have referring partnerships with Andover OH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Andover OH electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Andover home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

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

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Andover OH, check that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Andover OH?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Andover OH area.

Andover, Ohio

David Lindsey, writing in 1955, observes that "New England Yankees, moving into Ohio's Western Reserve in 1798, brought with them the name Andover from a township in Tolland County, Connecticut, birthplace of many of the migrants. General Henry Champion, second largest shareholder in the Connecticut Land Company, first acquired Andover Township in the drawing for lands held at Hartford in 1798."[6][7]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,145 people, 411 households, and 264 families residing in the village. The population density was 835.8 inhabitants per square mile (322.7/km2). There were 469 housing units at an average density of 342.3 per square mile (132.2/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.5% White, 2.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 411 households of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.04.

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Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Andover OH

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Andover OH.