How to Become an Electrician in Strong City Kansas
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Strong City KS. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about 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 options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Strong City KS
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Strong City KS. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- 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 students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Kansas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Kansas institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Strong City KS can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) 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 solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Strong City KS
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Strong City KS are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Strong City KS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed 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 decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs 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 an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Strong City KS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Strong City KS students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Strong City KS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Strong City KS electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Strong City residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak 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 programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Strong City KS, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Strong City KS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Strong City KS area.
Strong City, Kansas
Strong City is a city in Chase County, Kansas, United States.[1] Originally known as Cottonwood Station, in 1881 it was renamed Strong City after William Barstow Strong, then vice-president and general manager, and later president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.[7][8][9] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 485.[10]
For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
Pick the Right Electrical Vocational School near Strong City KS
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Strong City KS.
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