How to Become an Electrician in Guthrie Texas
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Guthrie TX. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Guthrie TX
There are three general options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Guthrie TX. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Texas technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Texas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Texas colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Guthrie TX can perform a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of competency:
- 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Guthrie TX
An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Guthrie TX are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Guthrie TX area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Guthrie TX school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Guthrie TX graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Guthrie TX area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Guthrie TX electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Guthrie residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees 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 go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Guthrie TX, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Guthrie TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Guthrie TX area.
Guthrie, Texas
Guthrie is a small town in, and the county seat of, King County in the U.S. state of Texas. It lies at the junction of U.S. Routes 82 and 83, ninety-six miles east of Lubbock. It serves as the principal headquarters of the Four Sixes Ranch.[1] and is the only community within its namesake Census Designated Place (CDP). As of the 2010 Census the population was 160.[2]
Guthrie's history begins in 1883, when the Louisville Land and Cattle Company in Louisville, Kentucky purchased several hundred acres in what later became King County. Named after Louisville Land and Cattle stockholder W.H. Guthrie, the community's townsite was platted in 1891 by Andrew Chester Tackitt (Son of Rev. Pleasant Tackitt, who had built Guthrie's first residence. When King County was organized that same year, Louisville Land and Cattle proposed the platting of a company townsite, to be named Ashville, to serve as the county's seat. Tackitt strongly opposed this proposition and led a charge to bring the seat to Guthrie instead. Tackitt's hotly contested campaign ultimately proved successful, and he not only succeeded in making Guthrie the county seat but was also elected to serve as King County's first county judge. Late in 1891, the Guthrie post office opened to the public.
The next year, Tackitt and a man by the name of Charlie Bradford brought in lumber from the neighboring community of Seymour and constructed Guthrie's first school; a small, one-room building. A larger school followed in 1895, though the lone teacher continued to depend upon schools in Seymour and Benjamin for curriculum. Proprietor John Gibson began to keep a stock of school books at his Guthrie general store in 1897, decreasing the school's dependence upon other districts.
Find the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Guthrie TX
Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount 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 course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Guthrie TX.
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