How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Massillon Ohio
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Massillon OH. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many variables to consider. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Massillon OH. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Ohio vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Ohio community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Ohio institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Massillon OH can perform a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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 vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though 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 get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Massillon OH are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Massillon OH area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Massillon OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Massillon OH students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational 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 within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Massillon OH area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Massillon OH electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Massillon residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges 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 bigger 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 a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers 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 schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Massillon OH, check that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Home Electrical Courses Massillon Ohio
Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Home Electrical Courses and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Certificate. But as we have covered 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 necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique options 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 faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Massillon OH.
More Electric Locations in Ohio
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of Canton, 20 miles (32 km) south of Akron, and 50 miles (80 km) south of Cleveland. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census, which makes it the 44th largest city in Ohio.
Massillon is the second largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the metropolitan area had a population of 404,422 and includes all of Stark and Carroll counties.
The city's incorporated area primarily resides in the western half of Perry Township, with portions extending north into Jackson Township, west into Tuscarawas Township, and south into Bethlehem Township. The village of Navarre borders the city to the south.
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