How to Become an Electrician in Blue Rapids Kansas
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Blue Rapids KS. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Blue Rapids KS
There are three general ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Blue Rapids KS. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Kansas technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Kansas colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Blue Rapids KS can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of competency:
- 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 provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Blue Rapids KS
A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Blue Rapids KS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Blue Rapids KS region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Blue Rapids KS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering 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 may indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use 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 help Blue Rapids KS graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction 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. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Blue Rapids KS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Blue Rapids KS electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Blue Rapids residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Blue Rapids KS, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, 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 Blue Rapids KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Blue Rapids KS area.
Blue Rapids, Kansas
The first endeavor to establish a town below the junction of the rivers, in 1857, failed due to misfortunes of two of the three participants. No further attempt to utilize the impressive water power was made until 1869–1870, when a colony of about 50 families from Genesee County, New York moved in, purchased land and water power rights, and began establishing a community. The Blue Rapids Town Company was formed, and by the end of 1870 the population was about 250. In 1872, Blue Rapids was incorporated as a city of third class under the statutes of Kansas.[9]
Among the first projects in 1870 were a stone dam and a wrought iron bridge built on the Big Blue River. A hydroelectric power plant was then added to provide power for manufacturing and for the town. The power plant was destroyed by a flood in 1903. In the late 19th century and early 20th century there were four gypsum mines in the area. The population peaked around 1910 at over 1,750. The public library, built in 1875, is the oldest library west of the Mississippi in continuous operation in the same building.[10]
Blue Rapids was the birthplace of the pancreatic cancer drug Streptozotocin. The bacterium from which the drug is derived was discovered in the late 1950s in a soil sample taken from "an uncultivated sandy soil in a grassland region" at Blue Rapids.
Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Blue Rapids KS
Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best 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 attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Blue Rapids KS.
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