How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Training School near West Point Kentucky
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near West Point KY. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near West Point KY. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Kentucky trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Kentucky junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Kentucky institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in West Point KY can perform a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from West Point KY are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. 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.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical 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 trade and vocational schools in the West Point KY region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the West Point KY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 may suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help West Point KY graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with West Point KY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local West Point KY electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your West Point home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors 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 programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near West Point KY, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Degrees Online West Point Kentucky
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Degrees Online and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Training Programs. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in West Point KY.
More Electric Locations in Kentucky
West Point, Kentucky
West Point is a home rule-class city in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States, near the edge of Fort Knox military reservation on Dixie Highway. It is located in a former meander bend of the Ohio River. The population was 797 at the 2010 census,[2] down from 1,100 at the 2000 census.
West Point was founded by pioneer James Young, who built a cabin at the site in 1789 and, in 1797, built a brick house and inn that is still standing today. In 1803, Lewis and Clark passed nearby and recruited West Point citizen John Shields to join their Corps of Discovery.
West Point sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt rivers, a strategic position that led Union forces to construct a fort here during the Civil War to protect their supply routes. Fort Duffield is the state's largest and best-preserved earthen fortification from the period.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 24
19 Reviews 
11 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 2 Reviews 2 Reviews 
6 Reviews 1 Reviews 