Category Archives: Rhode Island

Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Riverside RI 02915

How to Become an Electrician in Riverside Rhode Island

Riverside RI electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Riverside RI. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Riverside RI

Riverside RI electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Riverside RI. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Rhode Island technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Rhode Island 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 begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Rhode Island colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Riverside RI electricians working on power linesElectricians in Riverside RI can carry out a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in several specialties, 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 tech school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Riverside RI

attending electrician school online in Riverside RIA possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Riverside RI are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Riverside RI electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Riverside RI region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Riverside RI school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are considering 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 could suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential 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 use 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Riverside RI grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Riverside RI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Riverside RI electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Riverside home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions relating to 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.  Make sure 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 Riverside 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. Also, check out 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 Riverside RI?

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

Riverside, Rhode Island

Riverside is a suburban neighborhood of Providence. Adjoining Riverside are the town of Barrington in Bristol County to the south, Narragansett Bay to the west, the rest of East Providence to the north, and the Runnins River and Seekonk, Massachusetts to the east.

Riverside most notably became a tourist attraction in the late 19th and early 20th century due to the presence of Crescent Park Amusement Park, known as the “Coney Island of the East”. The 50 acre park operated from 1886 until 1979, and was famous for its Rhode Island Shore Dinners as well as the Alhambra Ballroom, where famous Big Bands played, and the bustling midway which included roller coasters, kiddie land, rides and games. Although the park in now gone, the famous 1895 Crescent Park Looff Carousel has been preserved and continues in operation every summer. The Carousel is nationally recognized as a true masterpiece of wood sculpture. Originally built as a showcase for prospective buyers, it is the largest and most elaborate of Looff's works.[2]

Many hotels, guest houses and shore dinner halls operated in Riverside in the late 19th century to accommodate the influx of summer visitors escaping the big city. Also available were several tent sites like Camp White and Camp Fuller. The Vue de l'Eau Hotel was built around 1860. The four-story Riverside Hotel boasted its own wharf and a huge ballroom overlooking the bay. After a few years, it was dismantled and shipped by barge to Nantucket. Pomham House opened in 1867 with its own wharf. The popular Silver Spring Hotel was opened two years later by developer, Hiram Maxfield. In addition to the hotel, it included a shore dinner hall and summer cottages.

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Find the Right Electrician Vocational School near Riverside RI

Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Riverside RI.

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