How to Become an Electrician in Wichita Falls Texas
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Wichita Falls TX. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Wichita Falls TX
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Wichita Falls TX. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Texas vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Texas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Texas colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Wichita Falls TX can carry out a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Wichita Falls TX
An option that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Wichita Falls TX are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Wichita Falls TX area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Wichita Falls TX program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Wichita Falls TX graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Wichita Falls TX area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently 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 Wichita Falls TX electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Wichita Falls home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive 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 big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Wichita Falls TX, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Wichita Falls TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Wichita Falls TX area.
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls (/ˈwɪtʃɪtɔː/ WITCH-i-taw) is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States.[5] It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 104,553, making it the 35th-most populous city in Texas. In addition, its central business district is five miles (8 km) from Sheppard Air Force Base which is home to the Air Force's largest technical training wing and the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program, the world's only multi-nationally manned and managed flying training program chartered to produce combat pilots for both USAF and NATO.
The Choctaw Native Americans settled the area in the early 19th century from their native Mississippi area once Americans negotiated to relocate them after the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.[6] American settlers arrived in the 1860s to form cattle ranches. The city was officially titled Wichita Falls on September 27, 1872. On that day, a sale of town lots was held at what is now the corner of Seventh and Ohio Streets – the birthplace of the city.[7] The Fort Worth & Denver City Railway arrived in September 1882, the same year the city became the county seat of Wichita County.[6] The city grew westwards from the original FW&DC train depot which was located at the northwest corner of Seventh Street and the FW&DC.[7] This area is now referred to as the Depot Square Historic District,[8][9] which has been declared a Texas Historic Landmark.[10]
The early history of Wichita Falls well into the 20th century also rests on the work of two entrepreneurs, Joseph A. Kemp[11] and his brother-in-law, Frank Kell. Kemp and Kell were pioneers in food processing and retailing, flour milling, railroads, cattle, banking, and oil.[12]
Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Wichita Falls TX
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Wichita Falls TX.
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