How to Become an Electrician in Philo Ohio
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Philo OH. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Philo OH
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Philo OH. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Ohio technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Ohio junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Ohio institutions, but are less favored 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 carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Philo OH can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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 tech school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Philo OH
An option that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Philo OH are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Philo OH area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have acquired 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 a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Philo OH program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program 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 program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Philo OH grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Philo OH area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area 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 using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Philo OH electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Philo residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Philo OH, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Philo OH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Philo OH area.
Philo, Ohio
An old variant name was Taylorsville.[6] Taylorsville was laid out in 1833 by James Taylor, and named for him.[7] A post office called Philo has been in operation since 1851.[8] The present name is for Philo Buckingham, an early settler.[9]
From 1924 to 1979, the Philo Power Plant generated electric power.[10][11] In 1957 Unit 6 at the Philo Power plant was the first commercial supercritical steam-electric generating unit in the world.[11]
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 733 people, 278 households, and 194 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,745.2 inhabitants per square mile (673.8/km2). There were 320 housing units at an average density of 761.9 per square mile (294.2/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.8% White, 0.8% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
Pick the Right Electrical Tech School near Philo OH
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining 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 instruction should 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 kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Philo OH.
Other Cool Cities in Ohio
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 