How to Become an Electrician in Howes South Dakota
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Howes SD. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Howes SD
There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Howes SD. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by South Dakota trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by South Dakota community colleges, typically 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 earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain South Dakota colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Howes SD can carry out a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Howes SD
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Howes SD are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Howes SD region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Howes SD program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Howes SD students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Howes SD area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 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 looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Howes SD electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Howes home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees 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 at night or on weekends near Howes SD, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make 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 issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Howes SD?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Howes SD area.
Howes, South Dakota
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Howes SD
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite 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 perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Howes SD.
Other Cool Cities in South Dakota
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
