Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Hammond IN 46320

How to Become an Electrician in Hammond Indiana

Hammond IN electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Hammond IN. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only things that should 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 contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more 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.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Hammond IN

Hammond IN electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Hammond IN. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Indiana trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Indiana community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Indiana institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Hammond IN electricians working on power lines Electricians in Hammond IN can carry out a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking 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 differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Hammond IN

attending electrician school online in Hammond IN A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Hammond IN are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Hammond IN electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Hammond IN region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Hammond IN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory 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 can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Hammond IN graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational 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. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Hammond IN area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. 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 Hammond IN electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Hammond home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training 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 big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Hammond IN, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Hammond IN?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Hammond IN area.

Hammond, Indiana

Hammond /ˈhæmənd/ is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. First settled in the mid-19th century, it is one of the oldest cities of northern Lake County. As of the 2010 United States census, it is also the largest in population: the 2010 population was 80,830, replacing Gary as the most populous city in Lake County. From north to south, Hammond runs from Lake Michigan down to the Little Calumet River; from east to west along its southern border, it runs from the Illinois state line to Cline Avenue. The city is traversed by numerous railroads and expressways, including the South Shore Line, Borman Expressway, and Indiana Toll Road.

Notable local landmarks include the parkland around Wolf Lake and the Horseshoe Hammond riverboat casino. Part of the Rust Belt, Hammond has been industrial almost from its inception, but is also home to a Purdue University campus and numerous historic districts that showcase the residential and commercial architecture of the early 20th century.

The city's elevation above sea level ranges from 577 feet (176 m) to 610 feet (186 m). The city sits within the boundaries of the former Lake Chicago, and much of its land area consists of former dune and swale terrain that was subsequently leveled. Most of the city is on sandy soil with a layer of black topsoil that varies from non-existent to several feet (a meter or more) thick. Much of the exposed sand was removed for purposes such as industrial use to make concrete and glass. According to the 2010 census, Hammond has a total area of 24.886 square miles (64.45 km2), of which 22.78 square miles (59.00 km2) (or 91.54%) is land and 2.106 square miles (5.45 km2) (or 8.46%) is water.[11]

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Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Hammond IN

Choosing the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hammond IN.