How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Warfield Kentucky
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Warfield KY. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have located several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Warfield KY. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first 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 intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Kentucky trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Kentucky community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Kentucky colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Warfield KY can carry out a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in many 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 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 trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting costs from Warfield KY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Warfield KY area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Warfield KY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Warfield KY students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along 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 electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Warfield KY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Warfield KY electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Warfield residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple 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 comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees 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 Warfield KY, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Courses For Electricians Warfield Kentucky
Selecting the ideal electrical training program 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 Courses For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Best Electrician Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Warfield KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
Warfield, Kentucky
The city of Warfield developed in the early 1850s after a salt works was established by George Rogers Clark Floyd and John Warfield of Virginia. The post office was established on April 15, 1856 and was named after the latter of the two men. Floyd further developed the city as the shipping point for his coal mine, the first to open in future Martin County. Warfield served as the county seat from 1870 to 1873, when it was moved to Inez.[2]
Warfield is located at 37°50′34″N 82°25′15″W / 37.84278°N 82.42083°W / 37.84278; -82.42083 (37.842799, -82.420766).[3] The town lies along the west bank of the Tug Fork, which is the boundary between Kentucky and West Virginia. The town of Kermit, West Virginia, lies across the river to the east. The two cities are connected by a vehicular bridge and an abandoned railroad bridge. Just west of Warfield lies the community of Beauty.
Warfield is concentrated around the intersection of Kentucky Route 40 and Kentucky Route 292. KY 40 connects Warfield with Inez and Paintsville to the west. KY 292 runs roughly north to south alongside the Tug Fork.
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