How to Pick the Right Electrician Training School near Columbus Kansas
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Columbus KS. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Columbus KS. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Kansas trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Kansas community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Kansas institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Columbus KS can carry out a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Columbus KS are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Columbus KS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Columbus KS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing 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 signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Columbus KS grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade 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 companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Columbus KS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Columbus KS electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Columbus residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable 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 few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Columbus KS, check that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrician Training Courses Columbus Kansas
Selecting the right electrical training program 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 Electrician Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic I Want To Be An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Columbus KS.
More Electric Locations in Kansas
Columbus, Kansas
Columbus was a railroad junction for the Saint Louis and San Francisco, and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroads. It was named Columbus by A.L. Peters, one of the European-American founders, for his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; the name thus indirectly honors Christopher Columbus, the explorer.[9][10] Coal, lead and zinc were mined in the region. Columbus had a considerable trade in agricultural products, and its businesses included machine shops, grain elevators, flour mills, a cigar factory, bottle works (soft drinks), a canning factory, and an extensive brick-making plant.[11]
In 1875, Robert A. Long and Victor Bell formed the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus. From one lumberyard, Long-Bell expanded operations and holdings to become one of the largest vertically integrated lumber companies in the United States. In 1956 it was purchased by International Paper.[12]
Columbus is located at 37°10′17″N 94°50′27″W / 37.17139°N 94.84083°W / 37.17139; -94.84083 (37.171379, -94.840704).[13] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.42 square miles (6.27 km2), all of it land.[2]
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