How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Training School near West Union Ohio
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near West Union OH. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because 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 found a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade 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 educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several approaches to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near West Union OH. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain 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 made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Ohio technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Ohio community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Ohio institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in West Union OH can perform a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from West Union OH are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the West Union OH region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the West Union OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist West Union OH grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade 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 electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with West Union OH 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 form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local West Union OH electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your West Union residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West Union OH, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Education And Training West Union Ohio
Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Education And Training and wanting more information on the topic Education Needed To Become An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in West Union OH.
More Electric Locations in Ohio
West Union, Ohio
Ironically, West Union lies east of Union, Ohio, a city in Montgomery County approximately 10 miles north of Dayton. West Union and Union are not adjacent to each other, actually being approximately 120 miles from each other.
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 3,241 people, 1,322 households, and 805 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,145.2 inhabitants per square mile (442.2/km2). There were 1,493 housing units at an average density of 527.6 per square mile (203.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.4% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.
There were 1,322 households of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.
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