Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Pahoa HI region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, 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 need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>Many electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Pahoa HI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.<\/p>\nHigh Completion and Placement Rates. <\/strong>Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and\/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Pahoa HI students obtain apprenticeships or employment.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Pahoa HI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Pahoa HI electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Pahoa home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one 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 to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Pahoa HI, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Pahoa HI?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Pahoa HI area.<\/p>\n
Pahoa, Hawaii<\/h3>
P\u0101hoa[1] is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawai\u2018i County, Hawai\u2018i, United States located in the District of Puna. The population was 962 at the 2000 census. The population dropped by 1.8% to 945 at the 2010 census.[2]<\/p>
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0\u00a0km2), all of it land. Soils underlying the P\u0101hoa area are volcanic in origin, deriving from the currently active Kilauea Volcano. (Earth Metrics Inc., 1986) Kilauea is one of the Earth's most active volcanoes, with the January, 2006 eruption being the longest rift zone eruption in Kilauea's 200 year recorded history. (Volcanology, 2007) The volcanic soils underlying P\u0101hoa are considered to have been generated by lava flows within the last 125 to 500 years. For example, the eruption of 1840 is known to have deposited a lava flow within 1.5 miles (2.4\u00a0km) of P\u0101hoa. Both State Route 130, and State Route 132 enter the town boundaries.<\/p>
As of the census of 2010, there were 945 people in 321 households residing in the CDP. The population density was 410.9 people per square mile (160.2\/km\u00b2). There were 356 housing units at an average density of 154.8 per square mile (60.3\/km\u00b2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 14.92% White, 0.42% African American, 1.48% American Indian & Alaska Native, 43.49% Asian, 12.59% Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 26.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.56% of the population.[2]<\/p><\/div>\n