Find Electrician Schools Near Me in West Greenwich RI 02817

How to Become an Electrician in West Greenwich Rhode Island

West Greenwich RI electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near West Greenwich RI. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover 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 educational options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near West Greenwich RI

West Greenwich RI electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several approaches to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near West Greenwich RI. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most typical programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Rhode Island vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Rhode Island community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Rhode Island 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 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

West Greenwich RI electricians working on power linesElectricians in West Greenwich RI can carry out a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of competency:

  • An experience requirement
  • Passing a written exam
  • Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in West Greenwich RI

attending electrician school online in West Greenwich RIAn option that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for students 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 alternatives. Travelling costs from West Greenwich RI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

West Greenwich RI electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the West Greenwich RI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the West Greenwich RI school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at 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 might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist West Greenwich RI grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with West Greenwich RI area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. 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 West Greenwich RI electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your West Greenwich residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify 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 West Greenwich RI, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near West Greenwich RI?

Following is a little bit of background information about the West Greenwich RI area.

West Greenwich, Rhode Island

West Greenwich is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 6,135 at the 2010 census. West Greenwich was named for the historic town of Greenwich, Kent, England. It was separated from East Greenwich in 1741. Students go to Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School in West Greenwich.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.3 square miles (133 km2), of which, 50.6 square miles (131 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (1.34%) is water. Escoheag Hill is located within the town and is the site of a former ski area.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,085 people, 1,749 households, and 1,451 families residing in the town. The population density was 100.4 people per square mile (38.8/km²). There were 1,809 housing units at an average density of 35.7 per square mile (13.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.70% White, 0.28% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

The location could not be found.

Find the Ideal Electrician Tech School near West Greenwich RI

Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in West Greenwich RI.

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