How to Choose the Best Electrician Tech School near Drakesboro Kentucky
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Drakesboro KY. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many points to examine. For example, some students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are several approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Drakesboro KY. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Kentucky vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Kentucky junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Kentucky colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Drakesboro KY can carry out a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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 trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
An option that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Drakesboro KY are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Drakesboro KY area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed 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 chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Drakesboro KY school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers 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 list of alumni, which may 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Drakesboro KY students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Drakesboro KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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 tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Drakesboro KY electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Drakesboro home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Drakesboro KY, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrical Online Training Drakesboro Kentucky
Picking the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Online Training and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrical Training. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Drakesboro KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Drakesboro, Kentucky
Drakesboro is a home rule-class city in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 627 at the 2000 census. Incorporated in 1888, the city was named for early pioneer William Drake.[2][3]
Drakesboro is located at 37°13′2″N 87°3′1″W / 37.21722°N 87.05028°W / 37.21722; -87.05028 (37.217274, -87.050169).[4] The city is situated along Kentucky Route 176 (Mose Rager Boulevard) east of Greenville. Its municipal boundaries extend eastward to KY 176's intersection with U.S. Route 431.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 627 people, 247 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,296.1 people per square mile (504.3/km²). There were 281 housing units at an average density of 580.9 per square mile (226.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.47% White, 9.73% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
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