How to Become an Electrician in Licking Missouri
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Licking MO. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Licking MO
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Licking MO. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Missouri vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are offered by Missouri 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 certain Missouri colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Licking MO can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Licking MO
A possibility that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Licking MO are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Licking MO area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Licking MO school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Licking MO grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Licking MO area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Licking MO electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Licking home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one 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 witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Licking MO, check that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Licking MO?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Licking MO area.
Licking, Missouri
The community was named for a mineral lick near the original town site.[7] An early variant name was "Buffalo Lick".[8] Licking experienced growth after the South Central Correctional Center opened in June 2000, which doubled the population from the 2000 Census to the 2010 Census. Also, a small Amish community moved from Berne, Indiana to Licking starting in 2009.[9]
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 3,124 people, 634 households, and 397 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,466.7 inhabitants per square mile (566.3/km2). There were 742 housing units at an average density of 348.4 per square mile (134.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.1% White, 25.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 634 households of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Licking MO
Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Licking MO.
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