How to Become an Electrician in Haileyville Oklahoma
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Haileyville OK. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Haileyville OK
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Haileyville OK. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Oklahoma vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Oklahoma community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Oklahoma colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Haileyville OK can carry out 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 concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies 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 tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Haileyville OK
An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Haileyville OK are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Haileyville OK area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. 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 crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Haileyville OK school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases 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 schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Haileyville OK grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Haileyville OK area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently 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 Haileyville OK electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Haileyville home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Haileyville OK, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide 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 issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Haileyville OK?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Haileyville OK area.
Haileyville, Oklahoma
Located in Pittsburg County, Haileyville lies at the junction of U.S. Route 270/State Highway 1 and State Highway 63, fourteen miles east of McAlester and a little more than one mile west of Hartshorne. The French explorer Jean Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe first mapped the site of Haileyville in 1719 during his expedition to the Arkansas River. In 1898 D. M. Hailey, M.D., established the town of Haileyville, when he claimed a tract of land east of McAlester and opened the area's first coal mines. A confederate veteran, Hailey had first moved into Indian Territory in 1868 to practice medicine and before long had become involved in several business ventures. His mining investments began when he and James Elliot started the Hailey-Ola Mining Company, leasing coal land from the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad, which laid tracks in the area in 1889-90. The first mine, named Number One Slope, began production on St. Patrick's Day in 1899.
Haileyville, in the Choctaw Nation, was a company town, which was a common feature of coal-mining communities. Italians, American Indians, Russians, and Americans comprised most of Haileyville, and many worked in the mines or on the railroads. Coal from the area was only profitable due to the railroad junction. The town was home to the freight and passenger offices of the Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Gulf Railroad, which later became the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company (Rock Island). By 1902 the railroad had 1,052 miles of track, including a branch from the town that ran to Ardmore. Haileyville remained the division point of the Rock Island Railroad until 1958, when the offices moved to El Reno.
On April 20, 1901, the U.S. Post Office Department designated a Haileyville post office. The 1907 population stood at 1,452, and it climbed to 2,024 in 1910. In 1911 a bank, the New State newspaper, five hotels, three doctors, and several retail and other businesses served the residents. The community and its close neighbor, Hartshorne, are known as the "twin cities" of Pittsburg County due to their proximity. Governor Lee Cruce proclaimed Haileyville a first class city on February 12, 1912. After a 2,067 population in 1920, the number of residents declined to 1,801 in 1930, 1,183 in 1940, and 922 in 1960. In 1946 one coal company, a bank, and an ice plant were the main businesses, with gas stations, grocery stores, and a hardware store. After the coal mines closed, lumber, farming, and ranching became the primary modes of production.
Choose the Right Electrical Technical School near Haileyville OK
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Haileyville OK.
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