Electrical Technology Program offers classes for those already in the field or just starting out

Along with offering an Electrical Technology Program on campus this fall, classes for journeyman and master electricians are also going to be offered to students, starting this summer.
 
Every Tuesday and Thursday in July from 6-9 p.m. a journeyman and master electrician exam prep class will be offered on Pratt Community College’s campus for people currently in the field wanting to move up.
 
“The class will allow people in the field to get the code review they need to move up,” said Tom Kuhn, Electrical Technology Program Instructor said. “We are going to try and offer this course a couple of different times throughout the year from now on.”
 
The class cost $175 and students must call (620)450-2167 to register and find out what materials are needed.
 
Students coming in this fall for the first semester of the Electrical Technology Program will take classes through Coffeyville Community College on PCC’s campus.
 
In the classroom students will focus on a variety of areas including residential, commercial, industrial wiring and plant maintenance, along with learning AVAC controls and POC’s.
 
“When they leave the class they should have a really good idea as to what area they want to go into,” Kuhn said.
 
Students will get hands-on experience in all areas of study.
 
A multipurpose room for residential use will be designed to give students hands-on experience. While the room might be a bedroom for the students to wire one day, it could be a kitchen for them to wire the next.
 
“It seems like with electrical people learn better with hands-on so we offer both hands-on and book work,” Kuhn said. “This helps them to retain the knowledge that they have learned and also lets them know if it is really what they want to go into.”
 
Kuhn said another benefit of students coming to PCC is that they are a part of the NCCER, which is an organization that all the major contractors in the country started. The organization has a national database where Kuhn will put what students have learned and what areas they have passed.
 
When enrolling in the program students will have the option to receive an associate’s degree or certification in the program. No matter which option a student chooses they will be required to take part in a three month internship.
 
When an individual starts the program at PCC they will be required to purchase some equipment, which they will need to complete the course and will need when they join the workforce. According to Jerry Burkhart, Dean of Technical Instruction, the equipment runs about $800 but most of it can be bought cheaper through vendors with a student discount.
 
When starting out in the field a person can make anywhere between $12 to $20 an hour.
“This job is in high demand right now and I see it continuing to grow,” Burkhart said.