How to Become an Electrician in Stockdale Ohio
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Stockdale OH. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Stockdale OH
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Stockdale OH. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Ohio trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are provided by Ohio community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Ohio colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Stockdale OH can undertake a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in many specialties, 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Stockdale OH
An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Stockdale OH are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Stockdale OH area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Stockdale OH school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Stockdale OH graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Stockdale OH area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Stockdale OH electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stockdale residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools 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 Stockdale OH, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stockdale OH?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Stockdale OH area.
James Stockdale
James Bond Stockdale (December 23, 1923 – July 5, 2005) was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, during which he was a prisoner of war for over seven years.
Commander Stockdale was the senior naval officer held captive in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He had led aerial attacks from the carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident. On his next deployment, while Commander of Carrier Air Wing Sixteen aboard the carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34), his A-4 Skyhawk jet was shot down in North Vietnam on September 9, 1965. He served as President of the Naval War College from October 1977 until he retired from the Navy in 1979. As Vice Admiral, Stockdale became the President for the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. Stockdale held this position from 1979 to 1980.
Stockdale was born in Abingdon, Illinois, on December 23, 1923, the son of Mabel Edith (née Bond) and Vernon Beard Stockdale.[1][2] Following a brief period at Monmouth College, he entered the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in June 1943.
Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Stockdale OH
Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Stockdale OH.
Other Cool Cities in Ohio
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 