Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Aberdeen WA 98520

How to Become an Electrician in Aberdeen Washington

Aberdeen WA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Aberdeen WA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Aberdeen WA

Aberdeen WA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Aberdeen WA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Washington vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Washington community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Washington institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Aberdeen WA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Aberdeen WA can perform a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Aberdeen WA

attending electrician school online in Aberdeen WAAn option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Aberdeen WA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Aberdeen WA electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Aberdeen WA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Aberdeen WA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Aberdeen WA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Aberdeen WA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Aberdeen WA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Aberdeen residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Aberdeen WA, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, 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 Aberdeen WA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Aberdeen WA area.

Aberdeen, Washington

Aberdeen /ˈæbərdiːn/ is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 16,896 at the 2010 census. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis. Aberdeen is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula" and the "Home of Kurt Cobain".

Aberdeen was named after a local salmon cannery to reflect its Scottish fishing port namesake Aberdeen, and because it, too, is situated at the mouth of two rivers (Aberdeen, Scotland is bordered by the River Don to the north and the River Dee to the south).

Aberdeen was founded by Samuel Benn in 1884 and incorporated on May 12, 1890. Although it became the largest and best-known city in Grays Harbor, Aberdeen lagged behind nearby Hoquiam and Cosmopolis in its early years. When A.J. West built the town's first sawmill in 1894, the other two municipalities had been in business for several years. Aberdeen and its neighbors vied to be the terminus for Northern Pacific Railroad, but instead of ending at one of the established mill towns, the railroad skimmed through Cosmopolis and headed west for Ocosta. Hoquiam and Aberdeen citizens together built a spur; in 1895, the line connected Northern Pacific tracks to Aberdeen.

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Aberdeen WA

Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Aberdeen WA.

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