How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Wausau Wisconsin
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Wausau WI. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Wausau WI. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Wisconsin vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Wisconsin community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Wisconsin colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Wausau WI can carry out a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as 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 agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Wausau WI are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Wausau WI area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 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 critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Wausau WI program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also mean 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 broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Wausau WI graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Wausau WI area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Wausau WI electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Wausau residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging 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 teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Wausau WI, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Industrial Electrical Courses Wausau Wisconsin
Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Industrial Electrical Courses and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Courses Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options 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 instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Wausau WI.
More Electric Locations in Wisconsin
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, and Rothschild.
As of the 2010 census, Wausau had a population of 39,106.[4] It is the core city of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes all of Marathon County and had a population of 134,063 at the 2010 census.
This area was occupied for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. The historic Ojibwe (also known in the United States as the Chippewa) occupied it in the period of European encounter. They had a lucrative fur trade for decades with French colonists and French Canadians. After the French and Indian War this trade was dominated by British-American trappers from the eastern seaboard.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 