How to Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Leitchfield Kentucky
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Leitchfield KY. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of points to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Leitchfield KY. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Kentucky trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Kentucky junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Kentucky colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Leitchfield KY can perform a wide range of functions, such as 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 mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding 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 vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Leitchfield KY are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Leitchfield KY region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Leitchfield KY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train 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 graduates, 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 a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Leitchfield KY students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Leitchfield KY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Leitchfield KY electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Leitchfield residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Leitchfield KY, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Master Electrician Classes Leitchfield Kentucky
Picking the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Master Electrician Classes and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Training. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Leitchfield KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Leitchfield, Kentucky
The town was named for Major David Leitch, an aide to Gen. George Washington and the original owner of much land in the county, including the town site.[5] The city was formally incorporated by the state assembly in 1866.[6]
Leitchfield lies in the Clifty Area, the sandstone-dominated belt that separates the West Kentucky Coal Field from the limestone-rich Pennyroyal Plateau. A fault running through the area puts limestone at or near the surface, and there are quarries west of town. The city is located along the Western Kentucky Parkway at the junction of Kentucky Route 259. U.S. Route 62 intersects 259 near the middle of town. Leitchfield is situated between Rough River Lake to the north and Nolin River Lake to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 square miles (28.2 km2), of which 10.8 square miles (28.1 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.38%, is water.[4]
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