Find Electrician Schools Near Me in West des Moines IA 50265

How to Become an Electrician in West des Moines Iowa

West des Moines IA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near West des Moines IA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near West des Moines IA

West des Moines IA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near West des Moines IA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Iowa vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Iowa junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Iowa institutions, but are less favored at 4 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 before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

West des Moines IA electricians working on power lines Electricians in West des Moines IA can undertake a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in various 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 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 enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in West des Moines IA

attending electrician school online in West des Moines IA An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from West des Moines IA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

West des Moines IA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the West des Moines IA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the West des Moines IA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct 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 directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist West des Moines IA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training 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 electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with West des Moines IA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local West des Moines IA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your West des Moines home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West des Moines IA, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near West des Moines IA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the West des Moines IA area.

Des Moines metropolitan area

The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), consists of five counties in central Iowa, United States: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, and Guthrie. The 2010 census population of these counties was 569,633, and the 2014 estimated population was 611,549.[1][2]

Three additional counties, Boone, Jasper, and Story, are part of the Des Moines–Ames–West Des Moines Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The area encompasses the separate metropolitan area of Ames (Story County), and the separate micropolitan areas of Boone, (Boone County), and Newton (Jasper County). The total population of the CSA was 722,323 in the 2010 census and 742,936 based on 2012 estimates.[3]

Polk County was originally the only county in the Des Moines metropolitan area when the United States Bureau of the Budget (now the United States Office of Management and Budget) began defining metropolitan areas in 1950. Warren County was added in 1973 and Dallas County was added in 1983.[4] Guthrie and Madison counties were added in 2003 after metropolitan areas were redefined. In 2005 the area was renamed the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area after a special census showed that West Des Moines had topped the 50,000 mark in population.[5]

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Select the Ideal Electrician Technical School near West des Moines IA

Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in West des Moines IA.