Electrician Vocational Schools Kirby AR

How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Kirby Arkansas

Kirby AR electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Kirby AR. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of points to consider. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs

Kirby AR electrician on power line poleThere are three general options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Kirby AR. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Arkansas technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by Arkansas community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Arkansas colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Kirby AR electrician wiring boxElectricians in Kirby AR can perform a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes

Kirby AR student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Kirby AR are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Questions to ask Kirby AR electrician schoolsWhen you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Kirby AR area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Kirby AR program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Kirby AR students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Kirby AR area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus 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 technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Kirby AR electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Kirby residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience 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 fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Kirby AR, check that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Electrician Vocational Schools Kirby Arkansas

Kirby AR electricians working on power linesChoosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Vocational Schools and wanting more information on the topic Education For Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Kirby AR.

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