Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lancaster OH 43130

How to Become an Electrician in Lancaster Ohio

Lancaster OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lancaster OH. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Lancaster OH

Lancaster OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lancaster OH. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Ohio trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Ohio junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Ohio institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Lancaster OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lancaster OH can perform a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Lancaster OH

attending electrician school online in Lancaster OH A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Lancaster OH are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Lancaster OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lancaster OH area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Lancaster OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent 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 directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 assist Lancaster OH students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Lancaster OH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lancaster OH electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lancaster residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lancaster OH, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lancaster OH?

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

Lancaster, Ohio

Lancaster (locally /ˈlæŋk(ə)stər/ LANG-kəs-tər, LANK-stər) is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,780. It is located near the Hocking River, approximately 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Columbus and is the county seat of Fairfield County.[5]

The earliest known inhabitants of the southeastern and central Ohio region were the Hopewell, Adena, and Fort Ancient Native Americans, of whom little evidence survived, beyond the burial and ceremonial mounds built throughout the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. Many mounds and burial sites have also yielded archaeological artifacts.[6] (See also: Serpent Mound and Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, which though not located in Fairfield County, are close by.)

Prior to and immediately after European settlement, the land today comprising Lancaster and Fairfield County, Ohio was inhabited variously by the Shawnee, Iroquois, Wyandot, and other Native American tribes. It served as a natural crossroads for the intertribal and intra-tribal wars fought at various times.[7] (See also: Beaver Wars) Noted frontier explorer Christopher Gist reached the vicinity of Lancaster on January 19, 1751, when he visited the small Delaware town of "Hockhocking" nearby. Leaving the area the next day, Gist rode southwest to "Maguck", another Delaware town near Circleville.

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Find the Right Electrical Tech School near Lancaster OH

Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect 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, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lancaster OH.