How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Putnam Valley New York
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Putnam Valley NY. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Putnam Valley NY. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by New York vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by New York 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 earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain New York institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Putnam Valley NY can perform a vast array 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 completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation 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 may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving costs from Putnam Valley NY are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Putnam Valley NY area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have earned 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. Make sure that the Putnam Valley NY program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training course 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest 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 directory 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Putnam Valley NY grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade 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 inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Putnam Valley NY area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Putnam Valley NY electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Putnam Valley home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Putnam Valley NY, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrician School Near Me Putnam Valley New York
Picking the best electrical trade school 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 School Near Me and wanting more information on the topic Training For Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Putnam Valley NY.
More Electric Locations in New York
Putnam Valley, New York
Putnam Valley is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 11,809 at the 2010 census.[3] Its location is northeast of New York City, in the southwest part of Putnam County. Many residents of Putnam Valley commute to New York City daily for work or recreational purposes (Midtown Manhattan is around a forty five to fifty minute drive). Putnam Valley calls itself the "Town of Lakes".
The retreating glaciers of the last ice age did much to shape the landscape of Putnam Valley, including the shearing of hills to expose springs (creating, for example Bryant Pond) and leaving the glacial deposits of stone and large boulders. The current area of Putnam Valley was occupied by paleo-Indians followed by the historic Wappinger Indians who lived by the many lakes. Dutch and English farmers moved into the area toward the end of the 17th Century.[4]
In 1697, the Highland Patent was granted to Adolph Philipse. The first settlers arrived around 1740. In 1745 the Smith property was sold to the Bryant family, who renamed their pond Bryant Pond and the nearby hill, Bryant Hill. The Smith family homestead is the oldest house in Putnam Valley, located just east of the Taconic Parkway on Bryant Pond Road.
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