Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Oakfield WI 53065

How to Become an Electrician in Oakfield Wisconsin

Oakfield WI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Oakfield WI. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Oakfield WI

Oakfield WI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Oakfield WI. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Wisconsin technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Wisconsin junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer 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 offered at certain Wisconsin colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Oakfield WI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Oakfield WI can perform a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Oakfield WI

attending electrician school online in Oakfield WI An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Oakfield WI are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Oakfield WI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Oakfield WI area, 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 are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Oakfield WI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Oakfield WI graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Oakfield WI area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Oakfield WI electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Oakfield home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Oakfield WI, verify that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oakfield WI?

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

Oakfield, Wisconsin

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,075 people, 392 households, and 307 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,096.9 inhabitants per square mile (423.5/km2). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 423.5 per square mile (163.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.9% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 392 households of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.7% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median age in the village was 40.3 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

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Find the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Oakfield WI

Picking the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Oakfield WI.