Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Rock Valley IA 51247

How to Become an Electrician in Rock Valley Iowa

Rock Valley IA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Rock Valley IA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Rock Valley IA

Rock Valley IA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Rock Valley IA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Iowa vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are offered by Iowa junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Iowa colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Rock Valley IA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Rock Valley IA can undertake a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in many specializations, including 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Rock Valley IA

attending electrician school online in Rock Valley IAAn alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Rock Valley IA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Rock Valley IA electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Rock Valley IA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Rock Valley IA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Rock Valley IA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  A large number of electrician trade 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 comparing have working relationships with Rock Valley IA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Rock Valley IA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Rock Valley home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm 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 in the evening or on weekends near Rock Valley IA, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Rock Valley IA?

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

Rock Valley, Iowa

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,354 people, 1,283 households, and 870 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,041.6 inhabitants per square mile (402.2/km2). There were 1,356 housing units at an average density of 421.1 per square mile (162.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Asian, 5.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.2% of the population.

There were 1,283 households of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.16.

The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 19.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrical Trade School near Rock Valley IA

Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Rock Valley IA.

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