How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Training School near Stroud Oklahoma
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Stroud OK. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Stroud OK. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Oklahoma trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Oklahoma community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Oklahoma colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Stroud OK can undertake a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of competency:
- 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 important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a means 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 receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Stroud OK are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Stroud OK region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria 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 chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Stroud OK school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Stroud OK graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Stroud OK area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Stroud OK electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Stroud residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few 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 schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Stroud OK, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Train To Become An Electrician Stroud Oklahoma
Picking the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Train To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Diploma Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Stroud OK.
More Electric Locations in Oklahoma
Stroud, Oklahoma
Stroud was founded in 1892 and named for James W. Stroud, a developer. Early in its history, Stroud lay in Oklahoma Territory, where alcoholic drinks could be sold legally. Towns close to the boundary between Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were known as "whiskey towns," and had a reputation as a "wild" town due to its many saloons and other businesses catering to thirsty cowboys and travelers arriving from "dry" Indian Territory. These days were short-lived, however, because Oklahoma statehood in 1907, forced Stroud to become "dry" as well.[4]
During the first decade of the 20th Century, Stroud's economy was based on cotton farming in the surrounding countryside. The population at statehood was 1,312. By 1909, Stroud had two banks, two newspapers, four cotton gins, and a cottonseed-oil mill, but the 1910 census showed population declined to 1,220.[4]
On March 27, 1915 Stroud became the victim of a legendary outlaw: "Henry Starr, along with six other men, decided to rob two banks at the same time... The [Stroud] robbery would prove... disastrous for Henry Starr. Proceeding to rob the Stroud National Bank and the First National Bank, word of the holdup spread quickly and the citizens took up arms against the bandits. Henry and another outlaw named Lewis Estes were wounded and captured in the gun battle. The rest of the gang escaped with $5815...".[5] Henry was sentenced to prison at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, but was paroled after serving only four years.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 