How to Find the Best Electrician Training School near Andover Minnesota
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Andover MN. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Andover MN. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Minnesota vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Minnesota junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Minnesota institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Andover MN can undertake a vast array of services, 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 become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test 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 experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Andover MN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Andover MN area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Andover MN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some 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 looking at 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 suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Andover MN graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Andover MN area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Andover MN electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Andover residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Andover MN, confirm that the schools 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. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Be An Electrician Andover Minnesota
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Good Electrician Schools. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Andover MN.
More Electric Locations in Minnesota
Andover, Minnesota
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.83 square miles (90.21 km2), of which 33.88 square miles (87.75 km2) is land and 0.95 square miles (2.46 km2) is water.[7] County Roads 9, 18, 78, and 116 are the main routes in the community. U.S. Highway 10 is nearby.
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 30,598 people, 9,811 households, and 8,357 families residing in the city. The population density was 903.1 inhabitants per square mile (348.7/km2). There were 10,091 housing units at an average density of 297.8 per square mile (115.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 1.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.
There were 9,811 households of which 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 14.8% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.35.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 87
1 Reviews 
13 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
39 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
14 Reviews 
8 Reviews 
6 Reviews 
19 Reviews 4 Reviews 