How to Become an Electrician in New Lexington Ohio
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near New Lexington OH. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important 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 trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. 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 New Lexington OH
There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near New Lexington OH. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Ohio trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by Ohio junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Ohio colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in New Lexington OH can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 tech school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in New Lexington OH
A possibility that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from New Lexington OH are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the New Lexington OH area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to 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 must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the New Lexington OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist New Lexington OH students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with New Lexington OH area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local New Lexington OH electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your New Lexington residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near New Lexington OH, verify that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Lexington OH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the New Lexington OH area.
New Lexington, Ohio
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 4,731 people, 1,838 households, and 1,164 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,426.2 inhabitants per square mile (936.8/km2). There were 2,000 housing units at an average density of 1,025.6 per square mile (396.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.
There were 1,838 households of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.12.
The median age in the village was 33.8 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near New Lexington OH
Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are considering 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 instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in New Lexington OH.
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