How to Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Albany New York
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Albany NY. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For instance, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Albany NY. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by New York vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by New York community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain New York institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Albany NY can perform a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Albany NY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Albany NY area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Albany NY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Albany NY students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Albany NY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Albany NY electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Albany residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Albany NY, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
How To Become A Commercial Electrician Albany New York
Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become A Commercial Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Programs. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Albany NY.
More Electric Locations in New York
Albany, New York
Albany (/ˈɔːlbəni/ (listen) ALL-bə-nee) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York and the seat of Albany County. Albany is located on the west bank of the Hudson River approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of its confluence with the Mohawk River and approximately 135 miles (220 km) north of New York City.[6]
Albany is known for its rich history, commerce, culture, architecture, and institutions of higher education. Albany constitutes the economic and cultural core of the Capital District of New York State, which comprises the Albany–Schenectady–Troy, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area, including the nearby cities and suburbs of Troy, Schenectady, and Saratoga Springs. With a 2013 Census-estimated population of 1.1 million [7] the Capital District is the third-most populous metropolitan region in the state. As of the 2010 census, the population of Albany was 97,856.
The area that later became Albany was settled by Dutch colonists who in 1614, built Fort Nassau for fur trading and, in 1624, built Fort Orange. In 1664, the English took over the Dutch settlements, renaming the city as Albany, in honor of the then Duke of Albany, the future James II of England and James VII of Scotland. The city was officially chartered in 1686 under English rule. It became the capital of New York in 1797 following formation of the United States. Albany is one of the oldest surviving settlements of the original British thirteen colonies, and is the longest continuously chartered city in the United States.[8]
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