Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ames IA 50010

How to Become an Electrician in Ames Iowa

Ames IA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Ames IA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Ames IA

Ames IA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Ames IA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Iowa technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Iowa community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Iowa colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Ames IA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Ames IA can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, 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 agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Ames IA

attending electrician school online in Ames IA An option that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling costs from Ames IA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Ames IA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Ames IA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs 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 relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Ames IA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may 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 Ames IA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Ames IA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. 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 Ames IA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Ames home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging 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 instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Ames IA, check that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ames IA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Ames IA area.

Ames, Iowa

Ames is a city located in the central part of Story County, Iowa, United States. It is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines, and had a 2016 population of 66,191. The U.S. Census Bureau designates the Ames metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County; combined with the Boone, Iowa micropolitan statistical area (Boone County, Iowa), the pair make up the larger Ames-Boone combined statistical area. While Ames is the largest city in Story County, the county seat is in the nearby city of Nevada 8 miles (13 km) east of Ames.

Ames is the home of Iowa State University of Science and Technology (ISU), a public research institution with leading Agriculture, Design, Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine colleges. ISU is the nation's first designated land-grant university,[6] and the birthplace of the Atanasoff–Berry Computer, the world's first electronic digital computer.[7] Ames hosts one of two national sites for the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which comprises the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the Center for Veterinary Biologics.[8] Ames is also the home of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service's National Animal Disease Center.[9] NADC is the largest federal animal disease center in the United States, conducting research aimed at solving animal health and food safety problems faced by livestock producers and the public. Ames has the headquarters for the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The city was founded in 1864 as a station stop on the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad and was named after 19th century U.S. Congressman Oakes Ames of Massachusetts, who was influential in the building of the transcontinental railroad.[11] Ames was founded by local resident Cynthia Olive Duff (née Kellogg) and railroad magnate John Insley Blair,[12] near a location that was deemed favorable for a railroad crossing of the Skunk River.

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Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Ames IA

Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction 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 vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Ames IA.