How to Become an Electrician in Atoka Oklahoma
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Atoka OK. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Atoka OK
There are three general options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Atoka OK. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Oklahoma technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Oklahoma junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Oklahoma institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Atoka OK can carry out a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test 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 identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Atoka OK
An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Atoka OK are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Atoka OK area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Atoka OK school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate 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 program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can mean 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Atoka OK students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Atoka OK area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Atoka OK electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Atoka residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one 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 large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Atoka OK, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask 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 Atoka OK?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Atoka OK area.
Atoka, Oklahoma
Atoka was founded by the Choctaw Indians in the 1850s,[7] and named for Captain Atoka, a leader of the Choctaw Nation and the signer of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which began the process of re-locating the Choctaw people from Mississippi to Oklahoma in 1830. The name "Atoka" is derived from the Choctaw word hitoka (or hetoka), which means "ball ground" in English.[8] He is believed to be buried near the town of Farris. Atoka is the site of the oldest Catholic parish in the Indian Territory, the oldest chapter of the Freemasons in Oklahoma, and the oldest chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Oklahoma.
A small Civil War confrontation occurred on February 13, 1864, north of Atoka. Early in 1864, Colonel William A. Philips set out with some 1,500 Union troops from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, to cut a swath through Confederate Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Their purpose was to break Confederate control over the Indian Territory and gain the support and possibly recruits from the Native Americans.
Along the way, Colonel Phillips sent out an advance of about 350 men toward Boggy Depot, a large Confederate supply base located on the Texas Road with the intention of capturing the outpost. While en route, his command encountered a small Confederate camp on the banks of the Middle Boggy River, made up of around 90 Confederate soldiers.
Choose the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Atoka OK
Selecting the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Atoka OK.
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