Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Alexandria KY 41001

How to Become an Electrician in Alexandria Kentucky

Alexandria KY electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Alexandria KY. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement 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 article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Alexandria KY

Alexandria KY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Alexandria KY. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered 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 required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Kentucky technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by Kentucky community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Kentucky colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Alexandria KY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Alexandria KY can carry out a wide range of services, such as 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 most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Alexandria KY

attending electrician school online in Alexandria KY An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving expenses from Alexandria KY are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Alexandria KY electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Alexandria KY region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. 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 while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Alexandria KY school 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 guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Alexandria KY students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Alexandria KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build 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 up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Alexandria KY electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Alexandria residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Alexandria KY, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Alexandria KY?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Alexandria KY area.

Alexandria, Kentucky

Alexandria is a home rule-class city[2] in Campbell County, Kentucky, in the United States. Along with Newport, it is one of the dual seats of the county.[3] The population was 8,477 at the 2010 census.[4]

It is believed that the area that is now Alexandria was first settled by Frank Spilman and his family c. 1793.[5] The Spilman family was from King George County, Virginia, and they may have named their settlement after Alexandria, Virginia.[5] The family had begun developing and selling lots in the settlement by 1819,[5] the year the first post office was established. On February 22, 1834, Alexandria was formally established by an act of the state assembly.[6]

When the Kentucky General Assembly formed Kenton County from part of Campbell County in 1840, they moved Campbell's county seat from Newport to Alexandria, which was closer to the center of the redrawn county.[5] The citizens of Alexandria quickly constructed a county courthouse but, because the majority of the county's population lived in Newport, the move was not a popular one and it took a court order and a visit from the sheriff to get the county clerk to move.[7]

The location could not be found.

Pick the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Alexandria KY

Picking the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Alexandria KY.