Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Oakdale WI 54649

How to Become an Electrician in Oakdale Wisconsin

Oakdale WI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Oakdale WI. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Oakdale WI

Oakdale WI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Oakdale WI. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

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

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Wisconsin institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Oakdale WI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Oakdale WI can carry out a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Oakdale WI

attending electrician school online in Oakdale WI An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Oakdale WI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Oakdale WI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Oakdale WI area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested 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 other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Oakdale WI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Oakdale WI graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Oakdale WI area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school 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 technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Oakdale WI electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Oakdale home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Oakdale WI, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oakdale WI?

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

Oakdale, Wisconsin

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 297 people, 129 households, and 75 families residing in the village. The population density was 345.3 inhabitants per square mile (133.3/km2). There were 137 housing units at an average density of 159.3 per square mile (61.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.3% White, 0.7% African American, 0.7% Native American, and 0.3% Asian.

There were 129 households of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the village was 39.8 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

The location could not be found.

Pick the Right Electrical Technical School near Oakdale WI

Choosing the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Oakdale WI.