How to Choose the Best Electrician Vocational School near University Mississippi
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near University MS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near University MS. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Mississippi technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Mississippi junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Mississippi institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in University MS can undertake a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to 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 commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from University MS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the University MS region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the University MS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help University MS students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with University MS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools 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 tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local University MS electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your University residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near University MS, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrical Tech Schools University Mississippi
Choosing the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Tech Schools and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Contractors Course Online. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in University MS.
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