How to Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Hickam Afb Hawaii
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Hickam Afb HI. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Hickam Afb HI. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Hawaii technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Hawaii community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Hawaii colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Hickam Afb HI can perform a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Hickam Afb HI are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Hickam Afb HI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Hickam Afb HI school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Hickam Afb HI students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along 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. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Hickam Afb HI area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Hickam Afb HI electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Hickam Afb residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Hickam Afb HI, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
I Want To Be An Electrician Hickam Afb Hawaii
Picking the ideal electrician 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 I Want To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrician Schools Online. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hickam Afb HI.
More Electric Locations in Hawaii
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The base merged with the Naval Station Pearl Harbor to become part of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. The base neighbors Honolulu International Airport and currently shares runways with the airport for its activities and purposes.
Hickam is home to the 15th Wing (15 WG) and 67 partner units including Headquarters of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Hawaii Air National Guard and the 154th Wing (154 WG) of the Hawaii Air National Guard. The Air Mobility Command's 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing (515 AMOW) provides tactical and strategic airlift within the Pacific region.
The 15th Wing is composed of four groups each with specific functions. The 15th Operations Group (15 OG) controls all flying and airfield operations. The 15th Maintenance Group (15 MXG) performs aircraft and aircraft ground equipment maintenance. The 15th Mission Support Group (15 MSG) has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. The 15th Medical Group (15 MDG) provides medical and dental care.
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