Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Akron OH 44301

How to Become an Electrician in Akron Ohio

Akron OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Akron OH. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Akron OH

Akron OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Akron OH. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Ohio trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Ohio community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Ohio institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Akron OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Akron OH can perform a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Akron OH

attending electrician school online in Akron OH An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Akron OH are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Akron OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Akron OH area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Akron OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Akron OH students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Akron OH area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Akron OH electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Akron residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out 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 handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Akron OH, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Akron OH?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Akron OH area.

Akron, Ohio

Akron (/ˈækrən/) is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, approximately 39 miles (63 km) south of Lake Erie.

As of the 2015 Census Estimate, the city proper had a total population of 197,542, making it the 119th largest city in the United States. The Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) covers Summit and Portage counties, and in 2010 had a population of 703,200.[5] It is also part of the larger Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area, which in 2013 had a population of 3,501,538, ranking 15th.

Co-founded along the Little Cuyahoga River in 1825 by Simon Perkins and Paul Williams, it was chosen as a strategic point at the summit of the developing Ohio and Erie Canal. The name derived from the Greek word "ἄκρον" signifying a summit or high point. Due to Eliakim Crosby founding "North Akron" (Cascade) in 1833, "South" was added to its name until the two merged into an incorporated village in 1836. Neighboring settlements Kenmore and Ellet became annexed in 1929. Residents of the city are called "Akronites". It has had many nicknames, three of which are "Rubber Capital of the World", "Rubber City" and "City of Invention".

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Pick the Right Electrical Trade School near Akron OH

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers 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 best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Akron OH.