How to Become an Electrician in Hardinsburg Kentucky
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Hardinsburg KY. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Hardinsburg KY
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Hardinsburg KY. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Kentucky vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Kentucky community colleges, commonly 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 available at certain Kentucky institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Hardinsburg KY can undertake a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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 tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Hardinsburg KY
An alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Hardinsburg KY are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Hardinsburg KY area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Hardinsburg KY program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher 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 utilize 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 help Hardinsburg KY graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Hardinsburg KY area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Hardinsburg KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Hardinsburg home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger 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 students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out 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 evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Hardinsburg KY, check that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Hardinsburg KY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Hardinsburg KY area.
Hardinsburg, Kentucky
Hardinsburg is a home rule-class city[3] in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is the seat of its county.[4] The population was 2,343 at the 2010 census.[5] Hardinsburg was named after Captain William Hardin.
Capt. William Hardin, brother of the Col. John Hardin for whom Hardin County was named, established a frontier fort at the site in 1780. The settlement was known variously as Hardin's Fort and Hardin's Station in the 18th century.[6]
William Hardin received 400 acres as assignee of Benjamin Hardin, Warrant# 2586, dated February 14, 1780, and the tract was surveyed June 8, 1784. According to the description, the land was on Hardin's Creek, a branch of the Ohio River, and it was formally granted on June 21, 1786. This area would become Hardinsburg.
Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Hardinsburg KY
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hardinsburg KY.
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