How to Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Granger Iowa
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Granger IA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Granger IA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Iowa vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Iowa junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Iowa colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Granger IA can carry out a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Granger IA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Granger IA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Granger IA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Granger IA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Granger IA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Granger IA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Granger home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Granger IA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Journeyman Electrician School Granger Iowa
Picking the right electrician trade school 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 Journeyman Electrician School and wanting more information on the topic Electrical College Courses. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way 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 proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Granger IA.
More Electric Locations in Iowa
Granger, Iowa
Granger is a city in Dallas and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1244 at the 2010 census, up 113% from 583 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,244 people, 461 households, and 330 families residing in the city. The population density was 857.9 inhabitants per square mile (331.2/km2). There were 490 housing units at an average density of 337.9 per square mile (130.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 461 households of which 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.4% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.06.
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