How to Become an Electrician in Springfield South Dakota
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Springfield SD. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Springfield SD
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Springfield SD. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by South Dakota technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by South Dakota junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain South Dakota institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Springfield SD can carry out a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing 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 become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Springfield SD
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Springfield SD are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Springfield SD area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Springfield SD program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Springfield SD students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Springfield SD area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Springfield SD electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Springfield residence. Remember that if you decide to attend 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 get as much individualized instruction 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 large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Springfield SD, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Springfield SD?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Springfield SD area.
Springfield, South Dakota
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,989 people, 352 households, and 200 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,969.3 inhabitants per square mile (760.4/km2). There were 433 housing units at an average density of 428.7 per square mile (165.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.7% White, 2.9% African American, 23.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.
There were 352 households of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.2% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 21% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.66.
The median age in the city was 37 years. 8.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 42.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 81.1% male and 18.9% female.
Find the Right Electrical Trade School near Springfield SD
Picking the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Springfield SD.
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