Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lexington OK 73051

How to Become an Electrician in Lexington Oklahoma

Lexington OK electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Lexington OK. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Lexington OK

Lexington OK electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lexington OK. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Oklahoma technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Oklahoma junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Oklahoma institutions, but are less favored 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 before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Lexington OK electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lexington OK can carry out a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Lexington OK

attending electrician school online in Lexington OK A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming 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 some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Lexington OK are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Lexington OK electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lexington OK area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Lexington OK school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate 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 list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Lexington OK grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Lexington OK area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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 specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Lexington OK electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lexington home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lexington OK, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find 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 Lexington OK?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lexington OK area.

Lexington, Oklahoma

Lexington is located in southern Cleveland County at 35°0′55″N 97°20′10″W / 35.01528°N 97.33611°W / 35.01528; -97.33611. It is bordered on the west by the Canadian River, which forms the McClain County line. The city of Purcell is directly across the river from Lexington, connected by U.S. Route 77. US 77 leads north from Lexington 16 miles (26 km) to Norman and 38 miles (61 km) to the center of Oklahoma City.

As of the census[1] of 2010 there were 2,152 people, 761 households, and 541 families residing in the city. The population density was 979.3 people per square mile (378.1/km²). There were 842 housing units at an average density of 395.3 per square mile (152.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.62% White, 0.58% African American, 6.47% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 3.74% from other races, and 3.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.29% of the population.

There were 761 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.

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Choose the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Lexington OK

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lexington OK.