How to Choose the Best Electrician Training School near Atoka Oklahoma
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Atoka OK. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to consider. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Atoka OK. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Oklahoma vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Oklahoma community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Oklahoma institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Atoka OK can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Atoka OK are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Atoka OK area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must 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. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Atoka OK school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also 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 result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Atoka OK graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Atoka OK area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Atoka OK electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Atoka residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Atoka OK, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Trade School Online Atoka Oklahoma
Selecting the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Trade School Online and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Technical School. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best means 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. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Atoka OK.
More Electric Locations in Oklahoma
Atoka, Oklahoma
Atoka was founded by the Choctaw Indians in the 1850s,[6] and named for Captain Atoka, a leader of the Choctaw Nation and the signer of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which began the process of re-locating the Choctaw people from Mississippi to Oklahoma in 1830. The name "Atoka" is derived from the Choctaw word hitoka (or hetoka), which means "ball ground" in English.[7] He is believed to be buried near the town of Farris. Atoka is the site of the oldest Catholic parish in the Indian Territory, the oldest chapter of the Freemasons in Oklahoma, and the oldest chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Oklahoma.
A small Civil War confrontation occurred on February 13, 1864, north of Atoka. Early in 1864, Colonel William A. Philips set out with some 1,500 Union troops from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, to cut a swath through Confederate Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Their purpose was to break Confederate control over the Indian Territory and gain the support and possibly recruits from the Native Americans.
Along the way, Colonel Phillips sent out an advance of about 350 men toward Boggy Depot, a large Confederate supply base located on the Texas Road with the intention of capturing the outpost. While en route, his command encountered a small Confederate camp on the banks of the Middle Boggy River, made up of around 90 Confederate soldiers.
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