Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dayton WA 99328

How to Become an Electrician in Dayton Washington

Dayton WA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Dayton WA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Dayton WA

Dayton WA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Dayton WA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Washington trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Washington junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Washington institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Dayton WA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Dayton WA can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in several specializations, including 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Dayton WA

attending electrician school online in Dayton WAAn alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Dayton WA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Dayton WA electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Dayton WA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Dayton WA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Dayton WA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Dayton WA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides 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 instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Dayton WA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Dayton residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging 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 experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Dayton WA, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find 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 Dayton WA?

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

Dayton, Washington

Dayton was founded in the 1860s. A town site plat was filed by Jesse N. and Elizabeth Day on November 23, 1871. Dayton was officially incorporated on November 10, 1881 and was named for Jesse Day.[6] Dayton has the oldest train depot (1881) in Washington State and the oldest continuously used courthouse (1887). The historical community of Baileysburg was once located about one mile southeast of Dayton, at the junction of North Touchet and South Touchet Roads.[7]

In the 1980s and 1990s, the town underwent a $3 million restoration program, repairing the historic depot and historic courthouse, adding pedestrian amenities to Main Street, and creating a National Historic District.[8]

Dayton is somewhat milder than most of eastern Washington in the winter and has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with hot summers (though nights are pleasantly cool) and chilly, though not severe winters with only very moderate snowfall. Precipitation is moderate for most of the year except for a dry period between July and September when major wildfires are very common in the region with the hot days and very low humidity.

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Find the Right Electrician Technical School near Dayton WA

Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dayton WA.

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