Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Fontana WI 53125

How to Become an Electrician in Fontana Wisconsin

Fontana WI electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Fontana WI. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Fontana WI

Fontana WI electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Fontana WI. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Wisconsin trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Wisconsin junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Wisconsin colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Fontana WI electricians working on power lines Electricians in Fontana WI can perform a wide range of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Fontana WI

attending electrician school online in Fontana WI A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While 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 schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Fontana WI are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Fontana WI electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Fontana WI region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Fontana WI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance 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 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to train 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 result in 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Fontana WI students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Fontana WI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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 concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Fontana WI electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Fontana home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Fontana WI, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be 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, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Fontana WI?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Fontana WI area.

Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.39 square miles (8.78 km2), of which, 3.35 square miles (8.68 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,672 people, 732 households, and 491 families residing in the village. The population density was 499.1 inhabitants per square mile (192.7/km2). There were 2,308 housing units at an average density of 689.0 per square mile (266.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.9% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 732 households of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.82.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Fontana WI

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Fontana WI.