How to Become an Electrician in Garden City Kansas
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Garden City KS. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Garden City KS
There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Garden City KS. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Kansas technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Kansas colleges, but are less favored 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 carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Garden City KS can undertake a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also 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 educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Garden City KS
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving costs from Garden City KS are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain 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 Garden City KS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Garden City KS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Garden City KS graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Garden City KS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Garden City KS electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Garden City home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Garden City KS, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Garden City KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Garden City KS area.
Garden City, Kansas
Garden City is a city in and the county seat of Finney County, Kansas, United States.[6] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,658.[7] The city is home to Garden City Community College and the Lee Richardson Zoo, the largest zoological park in western Kansas.
The original townsite was laid out on the south half of section 18 by engineer Charles Van Trump. The land was a loose, sandy loam and covered with sagebrush and soap weeds, but there were no trees. Main Street ran directly north and south, dividing William D. and James R. Fulton's claims. As soon as they could get building material, they erected two frame houses. William D. Fulton building on his land, on the east side of Main Street, a house one story and a half high, with two rooms on the ground and two rooms above. This was called the Occidental Hotel. William D. Fulton was proprietor. No other houses were built in Garden City until November 1878, when James R. Fulton and L.T. Walker each put up a building. The Fultons tried to get others to settle here, but only a few came, and at the end of the first year there were only four buildings.[8]
Charles Jesse Jones, later known as "Buffalo" Jones, arrived in Garden City for an antelope hunt in January 1879. Before Jones returned home, the Fulton brothers procured his services to promote Garden City, and especially in trying to influence the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad to put in a switch station. The railroad agreed to place its station at Garden City. In the spring of 1879, more people began arriving to homestead in the area. During the years of 1885-1887, a rush was made for Western Kansas, and a settler arrived for every quarter section. The United States Land Office also located at Garden City, and people went there to make filings on their land. Lawyers also arrived in Garden City. I.R. Holmes, the agent for the sale of lands of the ATSF, and Holmes' partner, A.C. McKeever, in 1885 sold thousands of acres of railroad and private land.[8]
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Garden City KS
Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Garden City KS.
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