Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Jenks OK 74037

How to Become an Electrician in Jenks Oklahoma

Jenks OK electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Jenks OK. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Jenks OK

Jenks OK electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Jenks OK. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Oklahoma technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Oklahoma community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Oklahoma institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Jenks OK electricians working on power lines Electricians in Jenks OK can perform a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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 important that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Jenks OK

attending electrician school online in Jenks OK An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Jenks OK are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Jenks OK electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Jenks OK region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Jenks OK program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Jenks OK students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Jenks OK area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Jenks OK electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Jenks residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Jenks OK, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Jenks OK?

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

Jenks, Oklahoma

Jenks is a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States, and a suburb of Tulsa, in the northeastern part of the state. It is situated between the Arkansas River and U.S. Route 75. Jenks is one of the fastest growing cities in Oklahoma. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,557, but by 2010, the population was 16,924, an increase of 77.1 percent.[3]

Jenks began in 1904 as a community site established by the Midland Valley Railroad between Tulsa and Muskogee, alongside the Arkansas River. Though the river could only be utilized by shallow draft steamboats while the water level was up, these two transportation routes proved vital to Jenks' early development.

Jenks was named after William Henry Jenks the owner and director of the Midland Valley Railroad. According to a 1957 article in the Tulsa Tribune, an agent for the townsite company was told by the railroad home office to name a town for the director.[4]

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Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Jenks OK

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Jenks OK.