How to Pick the Right Electrician Trade School near Meade Kansas
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Meade KS. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Meade KS. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Kansas trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided 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 prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Kansas colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Meade KS can undertake a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Meade KS are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Meade KS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Meade KS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Meade KS grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade 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 referring relationships with Meade KS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying 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 tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Meade KS electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Meade home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Meade KS, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Industrial Electrician Training Meade Kansas
Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Industrial Electrician Training and wanting more information on the topic How To Become Electrical Technician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Meade KS.
More Electric Locations in Kansas
Meade, Kansas
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,721 people, 670 households, and 454 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,738.4 inhabitants per square mile (671.2/km2). There were 766 housing units at an average density of 773.7 per square mile (298.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% White, 1.0% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.1% of the population.
There were 670 households of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.2% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.
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