How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Craig Alaska
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Craig AK. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are several approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Craig AK. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Alaska technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Alaska community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Alaska institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Craig AK can carry out a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Craig AK are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Craig AK region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired 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 an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Craig AK school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Craig AK grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Craig AK area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Craig AK electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Craig residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 Craig AK, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrical Programs Craig Alaska
Picking the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Programs and wanting more information on the topic Schooling For Electricians. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Craig AK.
More Electric Locations in Alaska
Craig, Alaska
Craig (Tlingit: Sháan Séet) is a first-class[13] city in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area in the Unorganized Borough[A] in the U.S. state of Alaska. The population was 1,201 at the 2010 census,[9] down from 1,397 in 2000.
Craig is the largest town on Prince of Wales Island, the fourth largest island in the USA.[4] Craig is approximately 56 miles (90 km) by air northwest of Ketchikan and 220 miles (350 km) south of Juneau.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km2), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km2) of it is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) of it (28.94%) is water.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 0
