How to Become an Electrician in Florence Wisconsin
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Florence WI. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Florence WI
There are several options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Florence WI. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Wisconsin vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Wisconsin community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Wisconsin institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Florence WI can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Florence WI
A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Florence WI are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online 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 discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Florence WI area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Florence WI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 also that it has the network of contacts to assist Florence WI grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Florence WI area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Florence WI electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Florence residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Florence WI, check that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Florence WI?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Florence WI area.
Florence, Wisconsin
Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Florence WI
Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Florence WI.
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