How to Find the Best Electrician Trade School near Erie Kansas
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Erie KS. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Erie KS. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Kansas technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Kansas colleges, but are less preferred 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 four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Erie KS can perform a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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 tech school that you choose not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Erie KS are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. 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 start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Erie KS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Erie KS program is 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 an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Erie KS graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Erie KS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Erie KS electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Erie home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and learn 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 assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Erie KS, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Become Certified Electrician Erie Kansas
Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Become Certified Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Technician Courses Online. But as we have covered 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 necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Erie KS.
More Electric Locations in Kansas
Erie, Kansas
Erie is a city in and the county seat of Neosho County, Kansas, United States,[7] and situated in the valley of the Neosho River, about a mile Northeast of the river. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,150.[8]
A settlement named "Erie", later referred to as "Old Erie" and "Beantown USA", was platted 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the present townsite, while another community, known as Crawfordsville, was started two miles northeast of the current site. In 1866, the proprietors of these two towns made a compromise to abandon the towns and combine with the settlement at the present Erie site. Four men gave 40 acres each, that butted together, out of their 160-acre shares, to create the city plat of Erie. These men were: David W. Bray, Luther Puckett, John F. Himmelwright and Peter Walter.[9] In November of that year the Erie Town Company was formed. Each member of this company donated forty acres of land in the center of Section 32, Township 28, Range 20 east.[10] Each member was to buy city plots and improve them.[11]
Erie's first fire company was established in November 1866; its charter members were those men who had donated the land on which the community was built. The first log home in Erie was built in 1866, while the first businesses were built in the following year. By 1883, the city had two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one drug store, two hotels, one newspaper office, two churches, and a population of about 300.[10]
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