How to Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Harrodsburg Kentucky
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Harrodsburg KY. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Harrodsburg KY. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Kentucky trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Kentucky junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Kentucky colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Harrodsburg KY can carry out a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Harrodsburg KY are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Harrodsburg KY region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Harrodsburg 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 ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Harrodsburg KY students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Harrodsburg KY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Harrodsburg KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Harrodsburg residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Harrodsburg KY, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Night School Harrodsburg Kentucky
Picking the ideal electrician training program 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 Electrician Night School and wanting more information on the topic Train As An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Harrodsburg KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Although Harrodsburg was formally established by the House of Burgesses after Boonesborough and was not incorporated by the Kentucky legislature until 1836,[4] it is usually considered the oldest city in Kentucky and has been honored as the oldest permanent American settlement west of the Appalachians.
Harrodstown (sometimes Harrod's Town) was laid out and founded by James Harrod on June 16, 1774.[5] Later that same year, amid Dunmore's War, the settlement was abandoned as a result of Shawnee attacks. Resettled the following year, it was one of three settlements in present day Kentucky at the time the 13 colonies declared independence in 1776, along with Logan's Fort and Boonesborough. Also known as Oldtown, Harrodstown was the first seat of Virginia's Kentucky (1776), Lincoln (1780), and Mercer (1785) counties upon their formations.[6] It remains the seat of Mercer County in Kentucky.
The settlement was formally established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1785 as Harrodsburg.[5] Four years later, it was named the location for the newly created United States District Court for the District of Kentucky by the Judiciary Act of 1789.[7] The Kentucky General Assembly incorporated Harrodsburg in 1836.[4]
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