Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Springfield OH 45501

How to Become an Electrician in Springfield Ohio

Springfield OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Springfield OH. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Springfield OH

Springfield OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Springfield OH. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Ohio technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Ohio community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Ohio institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Springfield OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Springfield OH can perform a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in various specializations, 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Springfield OH

attending electrician school online in Springfield OH A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Springfield OH are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Springfield OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Springfield OH region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Springfield OH school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent 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 produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Springfield OH graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Springfield OH area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local 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 using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Springfield OH electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Springfield residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Springfield OH, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure 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, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Springfield OH?

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

Springfield, Ohio

Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County.[6] The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately 45 miles (72 km) west of Columbus and 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg University, a liberal arts college.

As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,608.[7] The Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 138,333 residents.[8] and the Dayton-Springfield-Greenville, OH Combined Statistical Area had 1,072,891 residents.[9] The Little Miami Scenic Trail, a paved rail-trail which is almost 80 miles long, goes from the Buck Creek Scenic Trailhead in Springfield south to Newtown, Ohio (near Cincinnati), and is popular with hikers and cyclists.

In 1983, Newsweek featured Springfield in its 50th-anniversary issue, entitled, "The American Dream." It chronicled the impact of the past 50 years on five local families. In 2004, Springfield was chosen as an "All-America City." In the 2010s, Springfield was one of the lowest-ranking cities in the state and nation for indicators such as health, happiness and well-being.[10][11][12][13]

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Enroll in the Right Electrician Vocational School near Springfield OH

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Springfield OH.