Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Bellefontaine OH 43311

How to Become an Electrician in Bellefontaine Ohio

Bellefontaine OH electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Bellefontaine OH. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Bellefontaine OH

Bellefontaine OH electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Bellefontaine OH. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Ohio technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Ohio junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Ohio colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Bellefontaine OH electricians working on power lines Electricians in Bellefontaine OH can perform a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies 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 vocational school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Bellefontaine OH

attending electrician school online in Bellefontaine OH A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Bellefontaine OH are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Bellefontaine OH electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Bellefontaine OH region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn 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 Bellefontaine OH program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools 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 may indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers 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 broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Bellefontaine OH students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Bellefontaine OH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Bellefontaine OH electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Bellefontaine home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on 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 a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some 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 programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Bellefontaine OH, verify that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain 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 issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Bellefontaine OH?

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

Bellefontaine, Ohio

Bellefontaine (/bɛlˈfaʊntən/ bel-FOWN-tən)[6] is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Ohio, United States,[7] located 48 miles northwest of Columbus. The population was 13,370 at the 2010 Census. It is the principal city of the Bellefontaine, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Logan County. The highest point in Ohio, Campbell Hill, is within the city limits.

Around 1777, the Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket (Weyapiersenwah) built a settlement here, known as "Blue Jacket's Town". Blue Jacket and his band had previously occupied a village along the Scioto River, but the American Revolutionary War had reached the Ohio Country. Blue Jacket and other American Indians who took up arms against the American revolutionaries relocated in order to be closer to their British allies at Detroit.

After the United States gained independence, its forces continued warfare against former Indian allies of the British. Blue Jacket's Town was destroyed in Logan's Raid, conducted by Kentucky militia in 1786 at the outset of the Northwest Indian War. The expedition was led by Benjamin Logan, namesake of Logan County. Blue Jacket and his followers relocated further northwest to the Maumee River.[9]

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Bellefontaine OH

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Bellefontaine OH.