How to Become an Electrician in Richmond Indiana
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Richmond IN. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Richmond IN
There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Richmond IN. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Indiana trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Indiana community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Indiana institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Richmond IN can perform a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Richmond IN
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Richmond IN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Richmond IN region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Richmond IN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train 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 graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Richmond IN students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Richmond IN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Richmond IN electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Richmond home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Richmond IN, check that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Richmond IN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Richmond IN area.
Richmond
Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Richmond IN
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Richmond IN.
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