How to Pick the Best Electrician Training School near Piqua Ohio
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Piqua OH. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Piqua OH. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Ohio vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Ohio junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Ohio institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Piqua OH can perform a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Piqua OH are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Piqua OH region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Piqua OH program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Piqua OH students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Piqua OH area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Piqua OH electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Piqua home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple 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 concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Piqua OH, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Online Journeyman Electrician School Piqua Ohio
Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Journeyman Electrician School and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Courses Online. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Piqua OH.
More Electric Locations in Ohio
Piqua, Ohio
Piqua (/ˈpɪkwə/ PIK-wə) is a city in Miami County, southwest Ohio, United States, 27 miles north of Dayton. The population was 20,522 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The word 'Piqua' is believed to be derived from a Shawnee language phrase: Othath-He-Waugh-Pe-Qua, translated as "He has risen from the ashes," related to a legend of the people. It became associated with the Pekowi, one of the five divisions of the Shawnee people, who were eventually known as the Piqua.
In 1749, Fort Pickawillany was constructed by the British to protect their trading post at a Miami village of the same name. It was located at the confluence of Loramie Creek and the Great Miami River. (The present city of Piqua developed about a mile to the southwest).
Business Results 1 - 10 of 29
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
4 Reviews 