How to Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Altus Arkansas
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Altus AR. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Altus AR. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Arkansas vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Arkansas junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Arkansas institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Altus AR can carry out a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) as well as 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 strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Altus AR are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Altus AR region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested 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 decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Altus AR program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Altus AR students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Altus AR area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Altus AR electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Altus residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding 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 have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Altus AR, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Accredited Electrician Training Programs Altus Arkansas
Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrician Training Programs and wanting more information on the topic Industrial Electrician Training Online. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Altus AR.
More Electric Locations in Arkansas
Altus, Arkansas
Altus is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States. Located within the Arkansas River Valley at the edge of the Ozark Mountains, the city is within the Fort Smith metropolitan area. The epicenter of the Altus American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Arkansas Wine Country, the city is home to four wineries. Although founded as a coal mining community, the wine industry has driven the Altus economy since the first vineyards were planted in 1872. The population was 758 at the 2010 census,[3] down from 817 at the 2000 census.
Altus is the site of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (St. Mary's Catholic Church), which is on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1902 and is known for its beautiful paintings, ornate gold leaf walls, and Roman architecture.
Altus had its start in 1875 when the railroad was extended to that point.[4] Altus station was the highest point on the track. In recognition of this highest railroad elevation between Little Rock and Fort Smith, the station was originally known as "Summit". The town's initial development was due to railroad efforts encouraging German immigration to settle lands adjacent to the railroad. In 1903, the railroad mainline was shifted to a more favorable alignment along the Arkansas River. The track through Altus was removed in the 1930s, but the railroad station has been preserved as a commercial establishment.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 