How to Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Mason Kentucky
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Mason KY. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Mason KY. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Kentucky technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Kentucky community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Kentucky institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Mason KY can undertake a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Mason KY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Mason KY area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain 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 Mason KY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also signify that the teachers 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 directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Mason KY grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Mason KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Mason KY electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Mason home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Mason KY, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Training Courses For Electricians Mason Kentucky
Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Training Courses For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Trade School For Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Mason KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Mason County, Kentucky
Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,490.[1] Its county seat is Maysville.[2] The county was created from Bourbon County, Virginia in 1788 and named for George Mason, a Virginia delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights".[3][4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 246 square miles (640 km2), of which 240 square miles (620 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (2.6%) is water.[5] The county's northern border with Ohio is formed by the Ohio River.
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 16,800 people, 6,847 households, and 4,697 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 per square mile (27/km2). There were 7,754 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.88% White, 7.16% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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