How to Become an Electrician in Chester Ohio
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Chester OH. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Chester OH
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Chester OH. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain 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 the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Ohio vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Ohio community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Ohio colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Chester OH can undertake a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 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 important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Chester OH
An option that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Chester OH are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Chester OH region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Chester OH program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Chester OH students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Chester OH area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Chester OH electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Chester residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Chester OH, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Chester OH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Chester OH area.
West Chester, Ohio
West Chester was laid out and platted in 1814.[1] An old variant name of West Chester was Cadwallader.[2] A post office called Cadwallader was established in 1828, and remained in operation until 1918.[3]
Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Chester OH
Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Chester OH.
Other Cool Cities in Ohio
Business Results 1 - 10 of 4
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
6 Reviews 1 Reviews 