How to Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Muncie Indiana
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Muncie IN. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors 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 other qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Muncie IN. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Indiana vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Indiana community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Indiana colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Muncie IN can undertake a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely 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 can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Muncie IN are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Muncie IN area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Muncie IN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases 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 training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent 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 directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Muncie IN grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade 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. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Muncie IN area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Muncie IN electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Muncie home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger 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 teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Muncie IN, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrical Technology Schools Muncie Indiana
Picking the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technology Schools and wanting more information on the topic How To Become Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Muncie IN.
More Electric Locations in Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie /ˈmʌnsi/ is an incorporated city and the seat of Delaware County, Indiana. It is located in East Central Indiana, about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Indianapolis.[10] The United States Census for 2010 reported the city's population was 70,085. It is the principal city of the Muncie metropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 117,671.[11]
The Lenape (Delaware) people, who arrived in the area in the 1790s, founded several small villages, including one known as Munsee Town, along the White River. The small trading post, renamed Muncietown, was selected as the Delaware County seat and platted in 1827. Its name was officially shortened to Muncie in 1845 and incorporated as a city in 1865. Muncie developed as a manufacturing and industrial center, especially after the Indiana gas boom of the 1880s. It is home to Ball State University. As a result of the Middletown studies, sociological research that was first conducted in the 1920s, Muncie is said to be one of the most studied United States cities of its size.[12]
The area was first settled in the 1790s by the Lenape (Delaware) people, who migrated west from their tribal lands in the Mid-Atlantic region (all of New Jersey, southeastern New York, eastern Pennsylvania, and northern Delaware) to new lands in present-day Ohio and eastern Indiana. The Lenape founded several towns along the White River, including Munsee Town,[13] near the site of present-day Muncie.
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