Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Olympia WA 98501

How to Become an Electrician in Olympia Washington

Olympia WA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Olympia WA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Olympia WA

Olympia WA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Olympia WA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

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

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

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Olympia WA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Olympia WA can perform a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Olympia WA

attending electrician school online in Olympia WAAn option that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming 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 obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Olympia WA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Olympia WA electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Olympia WA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned 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 although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire 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 Olympia WA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 assist Olympia WA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

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

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Olympia WA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Olympia residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, 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 programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Olympia WA, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Olympia WA?

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

Olympia, Washington

Olympia is the capital of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County.[6] It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 as of the 2010 census, making it the 24th largest city in the state. The city borders Lacey to the east and Tumwater to the south. Olympia is a cultural center of the southern Puget Sound region. Olympia is located 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Seattle, the largest city in the state of Washington.

The first recorded visit by Europeans was in 1792 when Peter Puget and a crew from the British Vancouver Expedition charted the site. In 1846, Edmund Sylvester and Levi Smith jointly claimed the land that now comprises downtown Olympia. In 1851, the U.S. Congress established the Customs District of Puget Sound for Washington Territory and Olympia became the home of the customs house. Its population steadily expanded from Oregon Trail immigrants. In 1850, the town settled on the name Olympia, at the suggestion of local resident Colonel Isaac N. Ebey,[7] due to its view of the Olympic Mountains to the Northwest. The area began to be served by a small fleet of steamboats known as the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet.

The city of Olympia is located at the southern end of Puget Sound on Budd Inlet. The Deschutes River estuary was dammed in 1951 to create Capitol Lake. Much of the lower area of downtown Olympia sits on reclaimed land. The cities of Lacey and Tumwater border Olympia.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Olympia WA

Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Olympia WA.

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