Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lowell WI 53557

How to Become an Electrician in Lowell Wisconsin

Lowell WI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lowell WI. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have located several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important 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 selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Lowell WI

Lowell WI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Lowell WI. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Wisconsin technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Wisconsin community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Wisconsin institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Lowell WI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lowell WI can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Lowell WI

attending electrician school online in Lowell WI An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Lowell WI are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Lowell WI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lowell WI region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Lowell WI school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lowell WI grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Lowell WI 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 form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Lowell WI electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lowell residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult 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 students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out 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 evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Lowell WI, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lowell WI?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lowell WI area.

Lowell, Wisconsin

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km2), of which, 1.00 square mile (2.59 km2) of it is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 340 people, 136 households, and 89 families residing in the village. The population density was 340.0 inhabitants per square mile (131.3/km2). There were 163 housing units at an average density of 163.0 per square mile (62.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.4% White, 0.3% African American, and 0.3% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 136 households of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.06.

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Lowell WI

Picking the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lowell WI.