Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Auburn WA 98001

How to Become an Electrician in Auburn Washington

Auburn WA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Auburn WA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For example, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Auburn WA

Auburn WA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Auburn WA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Washington trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Washington community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Washington colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Auburn WA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Auburn WA can perform a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Auburn WA

attending electrician school online in Auburn WA An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting costs from Auburn WA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Auburn WA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Auburn WA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have received 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 pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Auburn WA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate 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 list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Auburn WA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Auburn WA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Auburn WA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Auburn residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience 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 fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Auburn WA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Auburn WA?

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

Auburn, Washington

Auburn is a city in King County, with a small portion in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 70,180 at the 2010 United States Census.[6] Auburn is a suburb in the Seattle metropolitan area, currently ranked the fifteenth largest city in the state of Washington.

Auburn is bordered by the cities of Federal Way, Pacific, and Algona to the west, Sumner to the south, Kent to the north, and unincorporated King County to the east. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is in or near the southern city limits.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.89 square miles (77.41 km2), of which, 29.62 square miles (76.72 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2) is water.[1]

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Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Auburn WA

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Auburn WA.