How to Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Reno Nevada
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Reno NV. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of variables to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Reno NV. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Nevada vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Nevada community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Nevada colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Reno NV can carry out a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Reno NV are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Reno NV region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Reno NV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Reno NV grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Reno NV area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Reno NV electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Reno residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 Reno NV, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrical Training Courses Online Reno Nevada
Picking the best electrical trade school 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 Electrical Training Courses Online and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrician Certification Training. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Reno NV.
More Electric Locations in Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno (/ˈriːnoʊ/ REE-noh) is a city in the U.S. state of Nevada, located in the western part of the state, approximately 22 miles (35 km) from Lake Tahoe. Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World",[2] Reno is famous for its hotels and casinos. It is the county seat of Washoe County, in the northwestern part of the state. The city sits in a high desert at the foot of the Sierra Nevada and its downtown area (along with Sparks and other suburbs) occupies a valley informally known as the Truckee Meadows. It is named after Union Major General Jesse L. Reno, who was killed in action at the Battle of South Mountain on Fox's Gap.
Reno is the third-most populous city in Nevada after Las Vegas and Henderson and the most populous city in the state outside the Las Vegas Valley, with an estimated population of 248,853 in 2017.[3] Reno is part of the Reno–Sparks metropolitan area, which consists of all of both Washoe and Storey counties and has a 2017 estimated population of 464,593.[4]
As early as the mid 1850s a few pioneers settled in the Truckee Meadows, a relatively fertile valley through which the Truckee River made its way from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. In addition to subsistence farming, these early residents could pick up business from travelers along the California Trail, which followed the Truckee westward, before branching off towards Donner Lake, where the formidable obstacle of the Sierra Nevada began.
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