How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Washington Kentucky
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Washington KY. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are three general ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Washington KY. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Kentucky vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Kentucky junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Kentucky colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Washington KY can perform a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:
- 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 tech school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Washington KY are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Washington KY region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Washington KY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, 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 schools you are reviewing 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 unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Washington KY grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Washington KY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Washington KY electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Washington residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher 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 monitor 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 with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out 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 reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Washington KY, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Training Near Me Washington Kentucky
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training Near Me and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Cost. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Washington KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Mount Washington, Kentucky
Mount Washington is a home rule-class city[3] in northeast Bullitt County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 9,117 at the 2010 census.[4] The city is one of several surrounding Louisville that have experienced a sharp rise in population in the past three decades, becoming a commuter town.
Mount Washington is located at what was once the crossroads of two stagecoach routes and was originally known as The Cross Roads. It was formally established in 1822 as Mount Vernon, after President George Washington's Virginia home, but it was unable to continue using the name because another town's post office had priority. At the time, the settlement housed c. 700 people and boasted three churches, two schools, six stores and groceries, five doctors, two taverns, and twelve mechanical trades. At the time of its (first) formal incorporation as a city in 1833, the town's name was changed to "Mount Washington", again in honor of the first United States president.
Mount Washington became the economic center of Bullitt County by the 1850s. In the autumn of 1862, during the Civil War, the town was held by John Wharton's Confederate cavalry, who skirmished with Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden's men north of Mount Washington along Floyds Fork on October 1. A defeat the following day led to a Confederate retreat from the area.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 9
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 