How to Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Kobuk Alaska
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Kobuk AK. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Kobuk AK. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn 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, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Alaska trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are offered by Alaska junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Alaska institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Kobuk AK can undertake a multitude 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 mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself 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 entails 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Kobuk AK are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Kobuk AK region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 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 selection, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned 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 pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Kobuk AK school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive 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 can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Kobuk AK grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught along 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 contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Kobuk AK area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing 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 tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Kobuk AK electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Kobuk home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Kobuk AK, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Education And Training Kobuk Alaska
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Education And Training and wanting more information on the topic Education Needed To Become An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are examining 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 provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some 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 end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Kobuk AK.
More Electric Locations in Alaska
Kobuk, Alaska
Kobuk was founded in 1899 as the village of Shungnak, a supply point for miners north of the Kobuk River in the Cosmos Hills. A trading post, school, and mission were built and residents came to the settlement. In the 1920s, river erosion led many residents to relocate ten miles downstream (west) to a site called "Kochuk." Kochuk became the new Shungnak, while the original Shungnak became Kobuk in 1928.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.8 square miles (44 km2), of which, 16.1 square miles (42 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (4.34%) is water.
Kobuk first appeared on the 1910 U.S. Census under its previous name of Shungnak, an unincorporated village. It appeared again on the 1920 U.S. Census. With the departure of many residents in 1927 to the "New" Shungnak site, the old site was renamed Kobuk in 1928. It did not appear on the 1930 census, but did beginning again in 1940. In 1970, Kobuk was erroneously reported as the unincorporated "Shungnak Village" (not to be confused with its neighbor city). In 1973, Kobuk was formally incorporated and has reported as Kobuk in every successive census since 1980.[10]
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