How to Become an Electrician in Spearfish South Dakota
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Spearfish SD. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For instance, many students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Spearfish SD
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Spearfish SD. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by South Dakota trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by South Dakota junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some South Dakota institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Spearfish SD can carry out a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:
- 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 select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Spearfish SD
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs 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 hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Spearfish SD are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Spearfish SD area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested 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 selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Spearfish SD program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers 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 directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Spearfish SD grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Spearfish SD area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical 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 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, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Spearfish SD electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Spearfish home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Spearfish SD, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check 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 Spearfish SD?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Spearfish SD area.
Spearfish, South Dakota
Before the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876, the area was used by Native Americans (primarily bands of Sioux but others also ranged through the area). Once the gold rush started, the city was founded in 1876 at the mouth of Spearfish Canyon, and was originally called Queen City.[8] Spearfish grew as a supplier of foodstuffs to the mining camps in the hills. Even today, a significant amount of truck farming and market gardening still occurs in the vicinity.
In 1887, the accepted history of gold mining in the Black Hills was thrown into question by the discovery of what has become known as the Thoen Stone.[9] Discovered by Louis Thoen on the slopes of Lookout Mountain, the stone purports to be the last testament of Ezra Kind who, along with six others, entered the Black Hills in 1833 (at a time when whites were forbidden by law and treaty from entering the area), "got all the gold we could carry" in June 1834, and were subsequently "killed by Indians beyond the high hill." While it may seem unlikely that someone who has "lost my gun and nothing to eat and Indians hunting me" would take the time to carve his story in sandstone, there is corroborating historical evidence for the Ezra Kind party.[10]
In the 20th century, the history of Spearfish was tied very closely to mining and tourism. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who visited Spearfish Canyon in 1935, later called the area "unique and unparalleled elsewhere in our country," and wondered, "How is it that I've heard so little of this miracle and we, toward the Atlantic, have heard so much of the Grand Canyon when this is even more miraculous?"[11]
Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Spearfish SD
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite 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 must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Spearfish SD.
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