Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Platteville WI 53818

How to Become an Electrician in Platteville Wisconsin

Platteville WI electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Platteville WI. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Platteville WI

Platteville WI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Platteville WI. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Wisconsin trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by Wisconsin junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Wisconsin institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Platteville WI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Platteville WI can perform a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings 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 commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Platteville WI

attending electrician school online in Platteville WI An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Platteville WI are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Platteville WI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Platteville WI area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Platteville WI school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors 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 more extensive list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Platteville WI students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Platteville WI area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish 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 up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Platteville WI electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Platteville residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, 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. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Platteville WI, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Platteville WI?

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

Platteville, Wisconsin

Platteville is the largest city in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin. The population was 11,224 at the 2010 census, growing 12% since the 2000 Census. Much of this growth is likely due to the enrollment increase of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. It is the principal city of the Platteville Micropolitan Statistical area which has an estimated population of 49,681.

Platteville was a small farming and fur trading community along the Platte River, from which the town got its name.[5] In the 1820s, lead ore or Galena was discovered in the area, a mining boom took the area by storm. The mining district encompassed a significant portion of southwest Wisconsin, including the counties of Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Jo Daviess County (Illinois), which played a major role in the mining of lead and zinc ore. The Galena, Illinois mining district, an area south of Platteville, had been known to many for years.[6] Beginning in 1825, lead prices saw a dramatic boost and the Platteville economy flourished.[7] The "grey gold" (a common nickname for lead ore) was brought development of businesses and schools. Platteville's landscape was shaped by the mining that helped build the town, and mineral holes abounded everywhere.[8]

By the 1849s lead ore production was decreasing. However, the mining of zinc ore quickly filled the void for prospective work. Platteville was now an established town, complete with schools, an academy, newspaper, several churches, and a telegraph service as of November 1849."[9]

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Find the Right Electrical Vocational School near Platteville WI

Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Platteville WI.