How to Become an Electrician in Stearns Kentucky
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Stearns KY. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Stearns KY
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Stearns KY. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Kentucky trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Kentucky community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Kentucky institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate 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 start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Stearns KY can carry out a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 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) 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 provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Stearns KY
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Stearns KY are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Stearns KY region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned 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. Confirm that the Stearns KY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct 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 result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Stearns KY grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Stearns KY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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 specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Stearns KY electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stearns residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Stearns KY, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stearns KY?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Stearns KY area.
Stearns, Kentucky
At the 2000 census,[2] there were 1,586 people, 641 households and 464 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 396.7 per square mile (153.1/km²). There were 707 housing units at an average density of 176.8/sq mi (68.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.36% White, 0.95% Native American, 0.06% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 641 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.92.
Age distribution was 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Stearns KY
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Stearns KY.
Other Cool Cities in Kentucky
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 