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How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Trade School near Lewis Indiana

Lewis IN electrician working on circuit board The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Lewis IN. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options

Lewis IN electrician on power line pole There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lewis IN. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Indiana trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Indiana junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Indiana colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Lewis IN electrician wiring box Electricians in Lewis IN can carry out a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online

Lewis IN student attending electrician school online A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means 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 balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Lewis IN are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Lewis IN electrician schools When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lewis IN region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received 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 relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Lewis IN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also mean that the instructors 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 broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Lewis IN students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Lewis IN area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lewis IN electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Lewis home. Remember that if you decide to attend 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 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 a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lewis IN, check that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Training Electrician Lewis Indiana

Lewis IN electricians working on power lines Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Training Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Residential Electrical Training. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lewis IN.