Electrical Training Courses Big Lake AK

How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Big Lake Alaska

Big Lake AK electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Big Lake AK. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs

Big Lake AK electrician on power line poleThere are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Big Lake AK. You may choose 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 other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Alaska vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Alaska community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Alaska colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Big Lake AK electrician wiring boxElectricians in Big Lake AK can perform a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing 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 municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs

Big Lake AK student attending electrician school onlineAn option that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Big Lake AK are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Questions to ask Big Lake AK electrician schoolsWhen you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Big Lake AK area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed 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 even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Big Lake AK school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Big Lake AK grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Big Lake AK area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Big Lake AK electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Big Lake home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees 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 larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Big Lake AK, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Electrical Training Courses Big Lake Alaska

Big Lake AK electricians working on power linesSelecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic Certified Electrician Course. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are assessing 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 curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Big Lake AK.

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    Big Lake, Alaska

    Big Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,350 at the 2010 census, up from 2,635 in 2000.

    According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 144.8 square miles (375 km2), of which, 131.9 square miles (342 km2) of it is land and 12.9 square miles (33 km2) of it (8.89%) is water.

    Big Lake first appeared on the 1960 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It was made a census-designated place (CDP) in 1980. Within Big Lake is the former short-lived city of Long Island, which existed from 1965-1975 and had just 7 residents on the 1970 census.[6][7] This is not to be confused with the former logging camp of Long Island.

     

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