How to Become an Electrician in Hawthorne Nevada
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Hawthorne NV. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Hawthorne NV
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Hawthorne NV. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Nevada vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Nevada junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Nevada colleges, but are less popular 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 completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Hawthorne NV can undertake a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Hawthorne NV
An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Hawthorne NV are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Hawthorne NV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Hawthorne NV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Hawthorne NV grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Hawthorne NV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Hawthorne NV electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Hawthorne home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training 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 experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Hawthorne NV, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Hawthorne NV?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Hawthorne NV area.
Hawthorne, Nevada
Hawthorne is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 3,269,[1] a decrease since the 2000 census, when it was 3,311. It is the county seat of Mineral County.[2] The nearby Hawthorne Army Depot is the primary economic base of the town.
The first permanent settlement at Hawthorne was made in 1880.[3] The community was named after William Hawthorne, a local law enforcement agent.[4] Hawthorne has been county seat of Mineral County since 1911.[3]
Hawthorne is located at 38°31′31″N 118°37′23″W / 38.52528°N 118.62306°W / 38.52528; -118.62306 (38.525198, -118.623053).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), all of it land. It sits between Walker Lake, Babbitt and under the peak of Mt. Grant, and its summit of 11,239 feet (3,426 m).
Choose the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Hawthorne NV
Picking the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect 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, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hawthorne NV.
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