How to Choose the Best Electrician Tech School near Rexford New York
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Rexford NY. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing 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 training choices that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Rexford NY. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by New York technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by New York junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some New York colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Rexford NY can perform a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test 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 distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Rexford NY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Rexford NY area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two 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 while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Rexford NY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors 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 broader list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Rexford NY grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Rexford NY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment 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 tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Rexford NY electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Rexford residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Rexford NY, check that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Electrical Education Rexford New York
Picking the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Education and wanting more information on the topic Best School For Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Rexford NY.
More Electric Locations in New York
Rexford, New York
Rexford is in the Town of Clifton Park, near the southwest town line. Its boundaries, like those of neighboring Alplaus, are unofficial and necessarily vague. To the south, it is bounded by the Mohawk River and Grooms Road and to the west, Alplaus and the Schenectady County line. Route 146 (Balltown Road) and Vischer's Ferry Road, are probably a reasonable delineations of its northern and eastern boundaries. The Rexford Fire District protected by the John McLane Hose Company is probably the most accurate survey of Rexford. The ZIP Code is 12148.
Edward Rexford called the area Rexford Flats. The Methodist Church at 18 Main St. was built in 1839. There is a blacksmith shop across from the church which dates back to that same era, the time of the Erie Canal.[3]
Rexford was the site of an aqueduct that brought vessels traveling the Erie Canal across the Mohawk River.[4] The aqueduct was built in 1841. Large arches which supported its towpath can still be seen from the Route 146 bridge crossing the river today.[3]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 46
1 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 