Electrical Technician Courses Rivervale AR

How to Choose the Best Electrician Trade School near Rivervale Arkansas

Rivervale AR electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Rivervale AR. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For example, many students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs

Rivervale AR electrician on power line poleThere are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Rivervale AR. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Arkansas vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Arkansas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Arkansas colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Rivervale AR electrician wiring boxElectricians in Rivervale AR can undertake a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:

  • 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs

Rivervale AR student attending electrician school onlineA possibility that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Rivervale AR are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Rivervale AR electrician schoolsNow that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Rivervale AR region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Rivervale AR program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools 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 might signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also mean 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 more extensive list of alumni, which may result in 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 a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Rivervale AR students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Rivervale AR area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Rivervale AR electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Rivervale home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added 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 difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Rivervale AR, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Electrical Technician Courses Rivervale Arkansas

Rivervale AR electricians working on power linesSelecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technician Courses and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Degrees. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Rivervale AR.

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    Rivervale Inverted Siphons

    The Rivervale Inverted Siphons, also known as the Rivervale Tunnel, are a historic flood control project in rural Poinsett County, Arkansas. It is essentially a very large concrete culvert, which channels the water flow of Ditch Number 4 under the Right Hand Chute Little River, into which it would normally drain. It is located just off Arkansas Highway 135 in northeastern Poinsett County, near its junctions with County Roads 87 and 112. Built in 1924-26, the purpose of the culvert was to reduce the amount of water carried by the Right Hand Chute during major flooding events by diverting the volume of Ditch Number 4 further downstream. As part of a robust series of flood control works, it helped stabilize flood management in the area so that further economic development could take place.[2]

     

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