How to Become an Electrician in Salida Colorado
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Salida CO. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Salida CO
There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Salida CO. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Colorado vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Colorado junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Colorado colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Salida CO can undertake a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Salida CO
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Salida CO are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Salida CO area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Salida CO school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Salida CO students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Salida CO area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Salida CO electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Salida home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Salida CO, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Salida CO?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Salida CO area.
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida (/səˈlaɪdə/ sə-LY-də; Spanish: [saˈliða], "exit") is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States.[7] The population was 5,236 at the 2010 census.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of it is land, and the Arkansas River, which runs through the town, is the major source of water for local agriculture.
The Sawatch Range runs north and south and is located roughly 10 miles (16 km) west of Salida. Methodist Mountain, which is a major feature on Salida's southern horizon, is the northernmost mountain in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. To the north of Salida is the Arkansas Valley and the town of Buena Vista.
Find the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Salida CO
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Salida CO.
Other Cool Cities in Colorado
Business Results 1 - 10 of 12
1 Reviews 