Find Electrician Schools Near Me in South Milwaukee WI 53172

How to Become an Electrician in South Milwaukee Wisconsin

South Milwaukee WI electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near South Milwaukee WI. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near South Milwaukee WI

South Milwaukee WI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near South Milwaukee WI. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Wisconsin vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Wisconsin junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Wisconsin institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

South Milwaukee WI electricians working on power lines Electricians in South Milwaukee WI can perform a multitude of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in South Milwaukee WI

attending electrician school online in South Milwaukee WI An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from South Milwaukee WI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

South Milwaukee WI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the South Milwaukee WI area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the South Milwaukee WI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate 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 of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent 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 broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help South Milwaukee WI students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with South Milwaukee WI area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local South Milwaukee WI electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your South Milwaukee residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near South Milwaukee WI, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near South Milwaukee WI?

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

South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

South Milwaukee was laid out in 1891 by the South Milwaukee company within the Town of Oak Creek, with the purpose of serving as a rival industrial suburb of the City of Milwaukee,[6] and was named from its location south of Milwaukee.[7] South Milwaukee was incorporated as a village in 1892.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.81 square miles (12.46 km2), of which, 4.80 square miles (12.43 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 21,156 people, 9,043 households, and 5,475 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,407.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,701.7/km2). There were 9,722 housing units at an average density of 2,025.4 per square mile (782.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.6% White, 2.0% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.0% of the population.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Technical School near South Milwaukee WI

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour 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 dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in South Milwaukee WI.