Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Columbus OH 43085

How to Become an Electrician in Columbus Ohio

Columbus OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Columbus OH. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Columbus OH

Columbus OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Columbus OH. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Ohio trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by Ohio 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 join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Ohio institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Columbus OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Columbus OH can carry out a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Columbus OH

attending electrician school online in Columbus OH An option that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Columbus OH are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Columbus OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Columbus OH area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Columbus OH program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Columbus OH grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Columbus OH area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Columbus OH electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Columbus home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Columbus OH, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Columbus OH?

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

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus (/kəˈlʌmbəs/ kə-LUM-bəs) is the state capital and the most populous city in Ohio. It is the 14th-most populous city in the United States,[17][18][19][20] with a population of 879,170 as of 2017 estimates,[21] and is one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States.[22] This makes Columbus the 3rd-most populous state capital in the United States after Phoenix, Arizona and Austin, Texas and the second-most populous city in the Midwestern United States, after Chicago.[23][24] It is the core city of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses ten counties.[25] With a population of 2,078,725, it is Ohio's second-largest metropolitan area.

Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County.[26] The municipality has also annexed portions of adjoining Delaware County, Pickaway County and Fairfield County. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816.

The city has a diverse economy based on education, government, insurance, banking, defense, aviation, food, clothes, logistics, steel, energy, medical research, health care, hospitality, retail, and technology. Columbus is home to the Battelle Memorial Institute, the world's largest private research and development foundation; Chemical Abstracts Service, the world's largest clearinghouse of chemical information; NetJets, the world's largest fractional ownership jet aircraft fleet; and The Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the United States. As of 2013[update], the city has the headquarters of five corporations in the U.S. Fortune 500: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power, L Brands, Big Lots, and Cardinal Health.[27] The food service corporations Wendy's, Donatos Pizza, Bob Evans, Max & Erma's and White Castle and the nationally known companies Red Roof Inn, Rogue Fitness, and Safelite are also based in the metropolitan area.

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Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Columbus OH

Selecting the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Columbus OH.