How to Pick the Best Electrician Tech School near Longmont Colorado
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Longmont CO. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Longmont CO. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Colorado technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Colorado junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Colorado colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Longmont CO can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An option that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Longmont CO are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Longmont CO region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired 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 pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Longmont CO school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Longmont CO graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational 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 electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Longmont CO area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Longmont CO electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Longmont home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with 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 evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Longmont CO, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Vocational School Longmont Colorado
Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Vocational School and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Schools Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses 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 satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Longmont CO.
More Electric Locations in Colorado
Longmont, Colorado
Longmont is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder and Weld counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. Longmont is located northeast of the county seat of Boulder and 33 miles (53 km) north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Longmont was founded in 1871 by a group of people from Chicago, Illinois. Originally called the Chicago-Colorado Colony, the men sold memberships in the town and with the proceeds purchased the land necessary for the town hall. As the first planned community in Boulder County, the city streets were laid out in a grid plan in a square mile. The city began to flourish as an agricultural community after the building of the Colorado Central Railroad line arrived northward from Boulder in 1877. During the 1940s, Longmont began to grow beyond these original limits.
In 1925, the Ku Klux Klan gained control of Longmont 's City Council in an election. They began construction of a large pork-barrel project, Chimney Rock Dam, above Lyons and marched up and down Main Street in their costumes. In the 1927 election they were voted out of office, and their influence soon declined. Work on Chimney Rock Dam was abandoned as unfeasible, and its foundations are still visible in the St. Vrain River.
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