Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Duncan OK 73533

How to Become an Electrician in Duncan Oklahoma

Duncan OK electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Duncan OK. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Duncan OK

Duncan OK electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Duncan OK. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Oklahoma trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Oklahoma community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Oklahoma colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Duncan OK electricians working on power lines Electricians in Duncan OK can perform a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Duncan OK

attending electrician school online in Duncan OK An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Duncan OK are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Duncan OK electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Duncan OK region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Duncan OK school is 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 superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Duncan OK students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade 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 partnerships with Duncan OK area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Duncan OK electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Duncan residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Duncan OK, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Duncan OK?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Duncan OK area.

Duncan, Oklahoma

The Chisholm Trail passed to the east of Duncan prior to the town's founding.[4] An estimated 9,800,000 Longhorn cattle were herded up the trail between Texas and Abilene, Kansas during its existence. After learning that an extension of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was being built from Kansas to Texas, Scotsman William Duncan brought his wife, parents, and other relatives and created a trading post situated at the intersection of the north-south Chisholm Trail and the east-west military passage between Fort Arbuckle and Fort Sill. The first train arrived on June 27, 1892; that date is considered the official birth date of the town.

Centrally located in Stephens County, Duncan became the county seat after Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907.[4] As a compromise between residents of the northern and southern parts of the county, the county courthouse was located in the middle of Duncan's Main Street, half of it in the northern part of the city and county and half in the southern. Main Street made a wide circle around it on both ends.

Oil wells opened in Stephens County in 1918 and led to rapid development in Duncan.[4] Shacks were prohibited immediately following the opening of the wells and other regulations were also put in place to channel the growth in an organized manner.[4]

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Duncan OK

Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Duncan OK.