How to Become an Electrician in Hollis Oklahoma
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Hollis OK. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Hollis OK
There are several options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Hollis OK. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Oklahoma vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Oklahoma junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive 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 shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Hollis OK can undertake a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 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 knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Hollis OK
A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Hollis OK are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Hollis OK area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade 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, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Hollis OK school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate 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 broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Hollis OK grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Hollis OK area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Hollis OK electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Hollis residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging 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 witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Hollis OK, verify that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, 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 Hollis OK?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Hollis OK area.
Hollis, Oklahoma
The city was named for George W. Hollis, a local businessman and member of the townsite committee that laid out the town in 1898, while the site was still in old Greer County, Texas.[4] The original plat was lost, and after a lawsuit, the town was re-platted in 1903. The original business district comprised a general store opened by George Hollis and a blacksmith shop owned by Jim Prock. A post office named for Hollis was established October 31, 1901.[4]
Hollis was in Greer County, Oklahoma until 1909, when Governor Haskell divided the old county into Greer County and Harmon County, Hollis fell into Harmon County. An election was held to choose a county seat. Contenders were Hollis, Dryden, Looney and Vinson. Hollis won the election.[4]
Hollis is located at 34°41′11″N 99°55′1″W / 34.68639°N 99.91694°W / 34.68639; -99.91694 (34.686374, -99.916889).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all land.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Hollis OK
Selecting the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study 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 ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Hollis OK.
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