Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Niles OH 44446

How to Become an Electrician in Niles Ohio

Niles OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Niles OH. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Niles OH

Niles OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Niles OH. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Ohio vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Ohio community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Ohio institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Niles OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Niles OH can undertake a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Niles OH

attending electrician school online in Niles OH An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Niles OH are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Niles OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Niles OH area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Niles OH program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Niles OH graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught together 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 electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Niles OH area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Niles OH electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Niles home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Niles OH, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Niles OH?

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

Niles, Ohio

Located in the nation's former industrial belt, the city's economy focused initially on iron manufacturing but later diversified to include steel and glass production.[6] Niles was adversely affected by the decline of the manufacturing sector throughout the northern United States in the 1970s.

Niles was founded in 1806 by James Heaton, who owned one of the first iron-ore processing plants in Ohio. The town originally went by the name of Heaton's Furnace but was later renamed Nilestown, after Hezekiah Niles (editor of the Niles Register, a Baltimore newspaper). In 1843, the name was shortened to Niles. In the early 19th century, Heaton built a forge and, later, a charcoal blast furnace in the area just east of what is now the city's central park, on the west side of Mosquito Creek. Heaton is credited with producing the first bar iron in Ohio.[6]

Niles' iron industry thrived until the late 19th century, when the economic depression of 1873 brought about the closure of the community's largest industrial firm, James Ward and Company. Plans to restore the local iron industry floundered because of the exorbitant cost of modernizing outdated mills. By the early 1900s, however, Niles was the site of companies including Ohio Galvanizing, Sykes Metal, the Niles Glass Works of the General Electric Company, and the Niles Iron and Steel Roofing Company. Between 1900 and 1920, the city's population swelled from 7,468 to slightly over 13,000. The community's efforts to rebuild its industry suffered a temporary setback in the 1910s. Niles was one of many cities affected by statewide floods that struck in the spring of 1913. On Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, heavy rain throughout Ohio, combined with ice and snow that was still on the ground, precipitated massive flooding.[6] Flooding of the Mahoning River left extensive damage and numerous casualties in Niles. Damage exceeded $3 million, and 428 people were confirmed dead.[6]

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Choose the Right Electrical Trade School near Niles OH

Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Niles OH.