How to Become an Electrician in Glendive Montana
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Glendive MT. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many factors to consider. For example, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade 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 instructional choices that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Glendive MT
There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Glendive MT. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Montana trade and technical schools and take about 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 Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Montana junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Montana institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Glendive MT can perform a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Glendive MT
A possibility that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Glendive MT are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Glendive MT region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Glendive MT school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course 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 list 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Glendive MT graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Glendive MT area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Glendive MT electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Glendive home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers 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 are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Glendive MT, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glendive MT?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Glendive MT area.
Glendive, Montana
Glendive is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Montana, United States, and home to Dawson Community College.[4] Glendive was established by the Northern Pacific Railway when they built the transcontinental railroad across the northern tier of the western United States from Minnesota to the Pacific Coast. The town was the headquarters for the Yellowstone Division that encompassed 875 route miles (1,408 km); 546 (879) in main line and 328 (528) in branches with the main routes from Mandan, North Dakota, to Billings, Montana, and from Billings to Livingston, Montana. The town of Glendive is an agricultural and ranching hub of eastern Montana. The town is tucked between the Yellowstone River and the Badlands, named for the rugged terrain and jagged rock formations that are known to exist in the area. Makoshika State Park is located just east of Glendive.
Glendive was briefly an oil boom town after the discovery of oil in the Williston Basin in the early 1950s. Moving the oil out of the area was difficult and expensive though; the boom ended by 1954 and only a small reserve existed locally. The community has been impacted in the 2000s by the North Dakota oil boom which spurred a modest increase in the population.[7]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 4,935 people, 2,060 households, and 1,190 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,486.4 inhabitants per square mile (573.9/km2). There were 2,267 housing units at an average density of 682.8 per square mile (263.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% White, 0.5% African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Glendive MT
Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. 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 considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Glendive MT.
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