school

I'm about to turn 45 and am thinking about going back to school to become an electrician. Any thoughts about trade schools compared with correspondence cources at home. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

In my opinion a hands-on course is the most valuable, as are apprenticeship programs.

 

Unless you are fond of daily cuts, scrapes and bruises, painful hands, arms, feet and back, heavy lifting, 10+ hour days, 6 day weeks (yeah, sometimes 7), working outside in the rain, freezing cold and snow (when else would outdoor ballasts need replacing?), sifting through insulation in attics (itchy skin the rest of the day included!), slithering through nast-filled, creature-infested crawl spaces, getting disgustingly dirty by 7:30 am and remaining that way all day, climbing and working off of 32 foot extension ladders, 12 foot step ladders and multi-tiered staging, cursing the supply house guy for screwing up your order, AGAIN!!!, inspectors that "think" they know it all and expect you to do it their way, not just the NEC's way, repeatedly listening to general contractors and customers tell you when you're supposed to do it and better yet, how you're supposed to do it, that dang emergency call just when you're about to hitch up the boat and go fishing, etc., etc., etc., I'd suggest another line of work.

Outside of that it's a glorious profession, complete with the routine praise you get for your incredible efforts!

Sorry, couldn't help it I'm not bitter!

Ahem, I agree with Sparky and would add that local schooling would vastly improve your educational experience since you have the instructor as well as the other students to learn from.

 

Wow Bolted Fault, you really make it sound enticing!!