Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Canton OH 44701

How to Become an Electrician in Canton Ohio

Canton OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Canton OH. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Canton OH

Canton OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Canton OH. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Ohio vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Ohio community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Ohio institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Canton OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Canton OH can undertake a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. 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 offered vary by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Canton OH

attending electrician school online in Canton OH An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Canton OH are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Canton OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Canton OH area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Canton OH school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Canton OH graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Canton OH 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 local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Canton OH electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Canton residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Canton OH, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, 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 due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Canton OH?

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

Canton, Ohio

Canton (/ˈkæntən/) is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio, United States.[6] Founded in 1805 alongside the Middle and West Branches of Nimishillen Creek, Canton became a heavy manufacturing center because of its numerous railroad lines. However, its status in that regard began to decline during the late 20th century, as shifts in the manufacturing industry led to the relocation or repositioning of many factories. After this decline, the city's industry diversified into the service economy, including retailing, education, finance and healthcare.

Canton is located approximately 24 miles (39 km) south of Akron,[7] and 60 miles (97 km) south of Cleveland,[8] in Northeast Ohio. Canton lies on the outskirts of the greater northeast Ohio metropolitan area anchored by Cleveland, and is also a short distance away from the periphery of the greater Pittsburgh area. The city lies on the edge of Ohio's extensive Amish country, particularly in Holmes and Wayne counties to the city's west and southwest. Canton is located along Interstate 77, U.S. Route 62, and the historic Lincoln Highway, the present-day U.S. Route 30, and is also the terminus of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Canton is the largest incorporated area in the Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Stark and Carroll counties. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 404,422. Canton's city population declined 9.7%, down to 73,007 residents.[9] Despite this decline, the 2010 figure actually moved Canton from ninth to eighth place among Ohio cities. Nearby Youngstown in Mahoning County, once considerably more populous than Canton, suffered a larger decline.[9]

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Canton OH

Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Canton OH.