Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Norman OK 73019

How to Become an Electrician in Norman Oklahoma

Norman OK electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Norman OK. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, some students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. 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 only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Norman OK

Norman OK electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Norman OK. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Oklahoma vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two 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 providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Oklahoma colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Norman OK electricians working on power lines Electricians in Norman OK can undertake a wide range of tasks, 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 required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, 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 organizations 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 pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Norman OK

attending electrician school online in Norman OK A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Norman OK are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Norman OK electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Norman OK area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. 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 chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Norman OK school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Norman OK students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Norman OK area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Norman OK electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Norman home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased 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 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 teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out 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 assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Norman OK, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Norman OK?

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

Norman, Oklahoma

Norman /ˈnɔːrmən/ is a city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma 20 miles (30 km) south of downtown Oklahoma City in its metropolitan area. The population was 110,925 at the 2010 census.[1] Norman's estimated population of 120,284 in 2015 makes it the third-largest city in Oklahoma, and the city serves as the county seat of Cleveland County.

Norman was settled during the Land Run of 1889, which opened the former Unassigned Lands of Indian Territory to American pioneer settlement. The city was named in honor of Abner Norman, the area's initial land surveyor, and was formally incorporated on May 13, 1891. Economically the city has prominent higher education and related research industries, as it is the home to the University of Oklahoma, the largest university in the state, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled. The university is well known for its sporting events by teams under the banner of the nickname "Sooners," with over 80,000 people routinely attending football games. The university is home to several museums, including the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which contains the largest collection of French Impressionist art ever given to an American university, as well as the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.

The National Weather Center, located in Norman, houses a unique collection of university, state, federal, and private sector organizations that work together to improve the understanding of events related to the Earth's atmosphere. Norman lies within Tornado Alley, a geographic region where tornadic activity is particularly frequent and intense. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Norman, is the most tornado-prone area in the world. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is located at the NWC. SPC forecasts severe storm and tornado outbreaks nationwide. Additionally, research is conducted at the co-located National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), which includes field research and operates various experimental weather radars.

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Enroll in the Right Electrical Tech School near Norman OK

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every 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 talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Norman OK.