How to Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Columbus Kentucky
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Columbus KY. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Columbus KY. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Kentucky technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Kentucky community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Kentucky colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Columbus KY can carry out a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. 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 method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Columbus KY are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Columbus KY region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Columbus KY school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors 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 directory of graduates, which may produce 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 help Columbus KY graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Columbus KY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical 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 equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Columbus KY electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Columbus home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Columbus KY, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Online Electrical Training Courses Columbus Kentucky
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrical Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Technical Schools. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Columbus KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Columbus, Kentucky
Columbus is a home rule-class city in Hickman County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 170 at the 2010 census,[2] a decline from 229 in 2000. The city lies at the western end of the state, less than a mile from the Mississippi River.
Columbus is the oldest town in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase. It was first settled on the Mississippi floodplain in 1804 and known as "Iron Banks" after the site's French name les rivages de fer.[3] The long-held local rumor that President Thomas Jefferson planned to remove the American capital to the site[4][5] has absolutely no basis in fact.[3]
The name of the town was changed to Columbus in 1820 (in honor of the Italian explorer), the year the town received its first post office and was formally established by the state assembly. It was the original Hickman County seat before the transfer of the court to the more central location of Clinton.[3] It was formally incorporated in 1860.[6]
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