How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near New Albany Indiana
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near New Albany IN. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near New Albany IN. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Indiana trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Indiana junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Indiana institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in New Albany IN can undertake a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving costs from New Albany IN are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the New Albany IN region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested 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 decision, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous 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 pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the New Albany IN school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist New Albany IN students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with New Albany IN area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local New Albany IN electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your New Albany home. Remember that if you decide to attend 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 challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near New Albany IN, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Education Needed To Become An Electrician New Albany Indiana
Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education Needed To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrician School. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in New Albany IN.
More Electric Locations in Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany /ˈɑːlbəni/ is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Floyd County.[6] It is bounded by I-265 to the north and the Ohio River to the south, and is considered part of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. The mayor of New Albany is Jeff Gahan, a Democrat; he was re-elected in 2015.
The land of New Albany was officially granted to the United States after the American Revolutionary War. The territory had been captured by George Rogers Clark in 1779. For his services Clark was awarded large tracts of land in Southern Indiana including most of Floyd County. After the war Clark sold and distributed some of his land to his fellow soldiers. The area of New Albany ended up in the possession of Col. John Paul.
New Albany was founded in July 1813 when three brothers from New York —Joel, Abner, and Nathaniel Scribner—arrived at the Falls of the Ohio and named the site after the city of Albany, New York.[7] They purchased the land from Col. John Paul. New Albany was platted by John Graham on the land owned by the Scribner brothers. In 1814 Joel and Mary Scribner built their home in New Albany; the Scribner House[8] still stands today.
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