How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Boaz Alabama
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Boaz AL. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Boaz AL. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Alabama technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Alabama community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Alabama institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Boaz AL can perform a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Boaz AL are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Boaz AL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Boaz AL program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Boaz AL students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Boaz AL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Boaz AL electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Boaz residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges 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 sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Boaz AL, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Trade Schools Boaz Alabama
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrical School. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Boaz AL.
More Electric Locations in Alabama
Boaz, Alabama
Boaz is a city in Marshall and Etowah counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is part of the Albertville, Alabama Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 9,551.[3] Boaz was known for its outlet shops.[4]
First settled in the 1850s, the town of Boaz was officially founded November 11, 1878 by the Sparks Family of Georgia.[5] A post office has been in operation since 1887.[6] The city was named after Boaz, from the Bible.[7] It was incorporated in 1897.
The Julia Street Memorial United Methodist Church, Snead Junior College Historic District, the Thomas A. Snellgrove Homestead, and the Edward Fenns Whitman House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage lists the Boaz Elementary School, the First Baptist Church and Cemetery, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[5]
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