Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Oak Harbor WA 98277

How to Become an Electrician in Oak Harbor Washington

Oak Harbor WA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Oak Harbor WA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Oak Harbor WA

Oak Harbor WA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Oak Harbor WA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Washington technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster 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 well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Washington institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Oak Harbor WA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Oak Harbor WA can perform a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Oak Harbor WA

attending electrician school online in Oak Harbor WA An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Oak Harbor WA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Oak Harbor WA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Oak Harbor WA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Oak Harbor WA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train 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 directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help Oak Harbor WA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational 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 within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Oak Harbor WA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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 regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Oak Harbor WA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Oak Harbor residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees 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 can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Oak Harbor WA, verify that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oak Harbor WA?

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

Oak Harbor, Washington

Oak Harbor is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city; it is named for the Garry Oak trees which grace its skyline. The city's growth coincided with two major events: the building of Deception Pass Bridge on July 31, 1935, and the completion of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on September 21, 1942. Oak Harbor's history goes back to the early 1850s, when two settlers staked claims where the city now stands—Zakarias Toftezen, a shoemaker from Norway; C.W. Sumner from New England.[5]

Houses and businesses sprouted up along the shores of Oak Harbor as the pioneers relied entirely on water transportation until the 1900s. For the next 30 years, steamers and freighters carried passengers and freight from the Island to the mainland and back as well as Fidalgo Island to the north.

The Irish came in the late 1850s, making Oak Harbor grow and prosper as they fished and farmed the area, and the city's Dutch heritage arrived in the 1890s. Churches, schools, and more businesses followed the arrival of the Dutch. A high school was built in 1906. Oak Harbor flourished as a small country town until Deception Pass Bridge and the U.S. Navy Base connected the city to the rest of the region and the world.

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Choose the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Oak Harbor WA

Choosing the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Oak Harbor WA.