How to Become an Electrician in Clark South Dakota
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Clark SD. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician 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 available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Clark SD
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Clark SD. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by South Dakota vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by South Dakota community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some South Dakota colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Clark SD can perform a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing 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 become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Clark SD
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Clark SD are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Clark SD area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Clark SD school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, 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 training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative 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 a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Clark SD students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Clark SD area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Clark SD electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Clark home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Clark SD, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Clark SD?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Clark SD area.
Clark, South Dakota
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,139 people, 552 households, and 306 families residing in the city. The population density was 889.8 inhabitants per square mile (343.6/km2). There were 627 housing units at an average density of 489.8 per square mile (189.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 552 households of which 19.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.6% were non-families. 40.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.68.
The median age in the city was 51.5 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 32.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
Find the Right Electrician Vocational School near Clark SD
Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are reviewing 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 education should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Clark SD.
Other Cool Cities in South Dakota
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
