Trade Schools in Indiana - How To Become An Electrician

Do you want a career that can take you far in life? Learning a trade is the easiest and quickest way to do that. People rely heavily on linemen and electricians in all areas of business and residential areas. The first step is to consider the many trade schools in Indiana. They help you train so that you can do your job well.  

Employers often like to see formal schooling on your resume, especially if you have no hands-on experience in the field. Electrician schools in Indiana give you that education you seek so that you can move forward and get your dream job.  

Fill out the form below to get more information about Indiana trade schools. It’s the first step on your journey to becoming an electrician or lineman. 

How Do Electrical Schools in Indiana Work?

Typically, electricians attend vocational schools to gain experience and training. They’re often one to two years long, and people study electrical theory and strengthen practical skills. 

Many of these tech schools partner with local electricians to provide apprenticeship (hands-on) training. 

What Do Technical Schools in Indiana Offer?

Most Indiana trade schools use a similar outline for teaching, though they may have different courses and options. Generally, you learn: 

  • Basic electrical theory (understanding resistance, current, voltage, DC/AC, power, and other fundamentals) 
  • Shop and field safety 
  • Wiring, mathematics, motors, load calculations, and electrical controls 

Often, vocational schools in Indiana take about a year to complete, but you may work at your own pace. Pay attention to the clock hours and note that many of these options also require field hours through an electrician apprenticeship. Your school usually sets this up for you and has companies or professionals it likes to work with here. 

What’s an Electrician Apprenticeship in Indiana? 

An electrician apprenticeship in Indiana helps you gain on-the-job training in the field. They range in length, but most of them run about three to five years. You work for the company sponsoring the apprenticeship while you attend school. It’s an easy way to get hands-on experience. 

Typically, your daily activities include repairing, testing, maintaining, and installing wiring and electrical circuits. Most people also review blueprints and diagrams to learn about operating methods and sequences. 

It’s possible to find apprenticeship programs in Indiana outside of your trade school. Many people choose that route and never set foot in a classroom. However, it might be harder to locate these options.  

Tech schools in Indiana often have a good rapport with apprenticeship companies. Therefore, you’re paired with one effortlessly and can consistently work and learn to become an electrician faster.  

It’s generally best to attend an Indiana electrician apprenticeship through your vocational school. You learn much more, gain hands-on experience, and enjoy your new career sooner! 

How to Become an Electrician in Indiana

You’re here because you want to find out how to become an electrician in Indiana. Electricians often train for many years before they enter the field, and a trade school is the best way to gain experience and knowledge. 

Once you’ve completed your training, you can check out various apprenticeship programs in Indiana to gain even more experience. The overall goal here is to prepare for certification and licensure. 

Generally, a high school diploma is a gateway for electrician careers. However, most employers prefer their potential employees to attend electrical lineman schools to understand blueprints and explore electrical theory. You may also specialize your training by taking courses for niche fields if you prefer.  

Indiana requires a license to become an electrician. However, there’s no statewide regulatory board. They are issued by a local municipality instead of the state. 

Benefits of Attending Electrical Lineman Schools

The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that there should be a growth of 10 percent for employed electricians before 2030. While that’s the nationwide number, it’s a good sign! The first step on your journey is to check out different trade schools that offer electrical programs. That gives you: 

  • Practical learning without distraction 
  • Various financing options 
  • Ability to earn a high school diploma (GED) 
  • Get the most from a future Indiana electrical apprenticeship 
  • More flexibility to learn on your time 
  • More job opportunities

Reasons to Become an Electrician in Indiana 

Once you locate electrician schools in Indiana and pass the course, you can be on your way to becoming a lineman or journeyman. Here are the top reasons to do so: 

  • Easy to find a job – Electricians are in high demand in every state, but especially in Indiana. Electrical contractors claim there are declining numbers of workers, likely because of people retiring.  
  • No college degree necessary – Traditionally, people attend a four-year college to get a degree in their field, but that doesn’t always help them find a good job. It’s expensive, and most students struggle to pay student loans. The costs are lower through trade schools, and apprenticeship programs help you earn money while you learn. 
  • Comfortable salary – Electricians earn roughly $55,590 per year, and experienced professionals can make $88,130 annually. That’s higher than roofers, construction workers, and plumbers make! Your salary increases as you learn more, so you can support yourself easily and prepare for the future. 
  • Specialty skills – Electricians are respected because they have specific knowledge and skillsets that regular people don’t. Electrical work requires problem-solving and physical labor. It’s never monotonous or repetitive, so you’re sure to face new challenges each day. 
  • Move up the ladder – With proper training from a vocational school, you can be a journeyman electrician. This means working on your own, repairing electrical issues, and installing wiring. From there, it’s easy to become a master electrician, who installs full systems and creates designs. You also manage others and can run your own business. 
  • Choose when and where to work – Electricians are required everywhere, so you can stay in Indiana and find employment easily. They often work 40-hour weeks (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), but they can change hours or travel if they prefer. You’ve got the flexibility to choose the schedule that meets your needs! 

Where You Can Thrive as an Electrician in Indiana 

Technical schools in Indiana help prepare you to be an electrician, but you’re probably wondering where you can work. Most people automatically assume they’re working in people’s homes to repair electrical problems and install new appliances. That’s definitely a possibility, but there’s so much more to do! 

Did you know that Indiana is the second-largest vehicle manufacturing state? Most cars and trucks now use computerized systems to make them run, so electricians are in high demand. The state also manufactures medical devices, electrical equipment, factory machinery, and transportation equipment.  

You can be at the forefront, designing new electrical systems, installing them, creating them, and even maintaining or repairing them! 

Agriculture is another big business area for Indiana. As an electrician, you could check electric-powered farm equipment, identify environmental threats to those electrical systems, and confirm grounding for them. Farmers require you to ensure that their machinery runs properly to get the crops in and harvested on time. 

Indiana also has oil fields, and those need electricians, too. How can the oil move from one location to another without you there to make sure it happens? Responsibilities can include: 

  • Write reports and correspondence 
  • Produce procedures for the electrical systems 
  • Create schematics and drawings 
  • Develop and design control systems for drilling equipment 

Indiana added over 20,000 residents in 2021 alone, so its population is now about 6.81 million! Why is that important to know? With that many people living in the area, you’re bound to be in high demand as an electrician!  

If you choose to work solely in residential homes, you can make a decent salary. However, you’re not limited to that because there are so many large industries in Indiana that require electrical systems and electricians to help them. 

Electrical linemen are electricians who work outside. They often install and maintain the equipment, but they also work in facilities that distribute and transmit power. Overall, there are so many ways to use your newfound education as an electrician! 

Currently, Indiana has many major projects lined up, primarily to build bridges and improve traffic in and around the state. Electricians are crucial for bridge projects because they: 

  • Install telecommunications systems 
  • Put up signage and lighting 
  • Install emergency notification systems and alarms 
  • Develop control systems 
  • Repair electrical systems 
  • Provide temporary electrical service to the worksite 

The same applies to highway development, such as the U.S. 31 and the I-69 Ohio River Crossing projects. Though you’re unlikely to finish your training before then, there are bound to be many others that pop up, requiring electricians like you! 

Conclusion

Finding electrical schools is the first step for those who want to be electricians. The goal is to get hands-on education through a vocational school and apprenticeship programs. That way, you learn the basics and get a job faster. 

Do you need to know the exact location of the school for transportation planning, want to determine textbook requirements, prefer to find accurate costs for schooling, or require information about transferability between schools in case you move? Fill out the form below, and we can connect you to the best trade schools in Indiana!