How to Become an Electrician in Sellersburg Indiana
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Sellersburg IN. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician 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 training options that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Sellersburg IN
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Sellersburg IN. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Indiana trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Indiana community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Indiana colleges, but are less popular 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 completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Sellersburg IN can perform a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in many specialties, such as 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Sellersburg IN
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely 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 attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Sellersburg IN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Sellersburg IN area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained 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 an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Sellersburg IN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Sellersburg IN students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction 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 electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Sellersburg IN area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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 under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Sellersburg IN electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Sellersburg home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Sellersburg IN, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Sellersburg IN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Sellersburg IN area.
Sellersburg, Indiana
Sellersburg is a town located within Silver Creek Township, Clark County, Indiana, United States. It had a population of 6,128 at time of the 2010 census. Sellersburg is located along Interstate 65, about 15 minutes north of Louisville.
Sellersburg takes its name from its founder, Moses Sellers, who laid out the town in 1846.[7][8] Sellersburg incorporated in 1890.[1] The first post office at Sellersburg was established in 1854, at which time the name was spelled Sellersburgh.[9]
Sellersburg grew up at 38°23′13″N 85°45′27″W / 38.38694°N 85.75750°W / 38.38694; -85.75750 (38.386823, -85.757543).[10] According to the 2010 census, Sellersburg has a total area of 3.97 square miles (10.28 km2), of which 3.94 square miles (10.20 km2) (or 99.24%) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) (or 0.76%) is water.[11]
Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Sellersburg IN
Picking the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal 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 school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Sellersburg IN.
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