How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Montgomery Indiana
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Montgomery IN. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many variables to examine. For example, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Montgomery IN. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Indiana technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Indiana community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Indiana institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Montgomery IN can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Montgomery IN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Montgomery IN area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may 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. Make certain that the Montgomery IN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Montgomery IN students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Montgomery IN area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Montgomery IN electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Montgomery home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Montgomery IN, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Education Needed To Be An Electrician Montgomery Indiana
Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education Needed To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certificate. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program 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 Montgomery IN.
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