How to Become an Electrician in Stockholm South Dakota
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Stockholm SD. But with so many technical schools to select 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 example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Stockholm SD
There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Stockholm SD. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by South Dakota vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by South Dakota community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain South Dakota colleges, but are less favored 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 performed prior to 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 Criteria
Electricians in Stockholm SD can undertake a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Stockholm SD
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Stockholm SD are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Stockholm SD area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. 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 important when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Stockholm SD program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct 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 can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Stockholm SD graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Stockholm SD area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job 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 up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Stockholm SD electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Stockholm residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Stockholm SD, verify that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stockholm SD?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Stockholm SD area.
Stockholm, South Dakota
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.44 square miles (1.14 km2), of which, 0.43 square miles (1.11 km2) of it is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[2]
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 108 people, 48 households, and 27 families residing in the town. The population density was 251.2 inhabitants per square mile (97.0/km2). There were 55 housing units at an average density of 127.9 per square mile (49.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 91.7% White, 2.8% Native American, 0.9% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 48 households of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.8% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
Find the Right Electrical Vocational School near Stockholm SD
Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Stockholm SD.
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