How to Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Frankfort Kansas
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Frankfort KS. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Frankfort KS. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Kansas vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Kansas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Kansas institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Frankfort KS can perform a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Frankfort KS are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Frankfort KS region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Frankfort KS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Frankfort KS graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Frankfort KS area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Frankfort KS electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Frankfort residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Frankfort KS, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Technician Program Frankfort Kansas
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technician Program and wanting more information on the topic Top Electrician Schools Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Frankfort KS.
More Electric Locations in Kansas
Frankfort, Kansas
Frankfort is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 726.[6] The town is famous for the 32 men it lost during World War II, more per capita than any other community in the USA.[7]
Frankfort was laid out in 1867 when the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad was built through the area.[8] The nearby post office of Nottingham, established in 1857, moved roughly a half-mile northwest to meet the railroad. It was named for Frank Schmidt, a member of the town company.[9] Frankfort was incorporated as a city of the third class in 1875.[10]
Frankfort is located at 39°42′14″N 96°25′5″W / 39.70389°N 96.41806°W / 39.70389; -96.41806 (39.703810, -96.417925).[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.02 square miles (2.64 km2), of which, 1.01 square miles (2.62 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]
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