How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Training School near Elberton Georgia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Elberton GA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to consider. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Elberton GA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Georgia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Georgia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Georgia institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Elberton GA can perform a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three 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 enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Elberton GA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Elberton GA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Elberton GA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Elberton GA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together 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 electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Elberton GA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Elberton GA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Elberton home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Elberton GA, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrician Education Requirements Elberton Georgia
Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Education Requirements and wanting more information on the topic Electricians Training. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Elberton GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Elberton, Georgia
Settled in the 1780s, Elbert was designated seat of the newly formed Elbert County in 1790. It was incorporated as a town in 1803 and as a city in 1896.[6][7] Like Elbert County, Elberton is named for Samuel Elbert.[8]
Elberton is located near the center of Elbert County at 34°6′35″N 82°51′56″W / 34.10972°N 82.86556°W / 34.10972; -82.86556 (34.109628, -82.865669).[10] State Routes 17 and 72 pass east-west through the center of town as College Avenue, while 77 crosses north-south on Oliver Street. GA 17 leads northwest 19 miles (31 km) to Royston and southeast 29 miles (47 km) to Washington, GA 72 leads east 15 miles (24 km) to the South Carolina border at Richard B. Russell Lake on the Savannah River and west 35 miles (56 km) to Athens, and GA 77 leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Hartwell and southwest 25 miles (40 km) to Lexington.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Elberton has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km2), of which 4.7 square miles (12.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.72%, is water.[4]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 7
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 