How to Find the Best Electrician Trade School near La Crosse Wisconsin
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near La Crosse WI. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to consider. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near La Crosse WI. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Wisconsin technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Wisconsin junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Wisconsin colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in La Crosse WI can perform a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 tech school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from La Crosse WI are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the La Crosse WI region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the La Crosse WI program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct 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 may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help La Crosse WI graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with La Crosse WI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local La Crosse WI electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your La Crosse home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near La Crosse WI, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
How Long To Become A Electrician La Crosse Wisconsin
Selecting the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How Long To Become A Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Near Me. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program 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 decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in La Crosse WI.
More Electric Locations in Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border.[6] La Crosse's estimated population in 2017 was 51,834.[7] The city forms the core of and is the principal city in the La Crosse Metropolitan Area which includes all of La Crosse County and Houston County, Minnesota, for a population of 135,298.[8]
A regional technology, medical, and transportation hub, companies based in the La Crosse area include Organic Valley, Logistics Health Incorporated, Kwik Trip, La Crosse Technology, City Brewing Company, and Trane. La Crosse is a college town and home to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College.
The first Europeans to see the site of La Crosse were French fur traders who traveled the Mississippi River in the late 17th century. There is no written record of any visit to the site until 1805, when Lt. Zebulon Pike mounted an expedition up the Mississippi River for the United States. Pike recorded the location's name as "Prairie La Crosse." The name originated from the game with sticks that resembled a bishop's crozier or la crosse in French, which was played by Native Americans there.[9][10]
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