How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Ellijay Georgia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Ellijay GA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will address 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 educational choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Ellijay GA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Georgia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by Georgia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Georgia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Ellijay GA can perform a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. 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 obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Ellijay GA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Ellijay GA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Ellijay GA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Ellijay GA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Ellijay GA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Ellijay GA electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Ellijay home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Ellijay GA, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Accredited Electrical Certification Training Ellijay Georgia
Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrical Certification Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Apprenticeship School. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration 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. Every program provides different options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your final 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 school you select 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 Ellijay GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Ellijay, Georgia
Gilmer County was cut from Cherokee County in 1832, and Ellijay became the county seat in 1834.[11] Ellijay existed as a remote mountain community until the Marietta and Northern Georgia Railroad (later the L & N) arrived in 1884. This prompted something of a boom in the timber industry, but the area remained relatively isolated until the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway (Georgia 515, named for Georgia governor and U.S. senator Zell Miller) was completed in 1991.
Ellijay is located at the center of Gilmer County, at 34°41'41" north, 84°29'1" west (34.694656, -84.483566).[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km2), all land.[4] It is situated at the confluence of the Ellijay and Cartecay rivers, forming the Coosawattee River, part of the Oostanaula/Coosa/Alabama River watershed. It is bordered to the east and south by the city of East Ellijay.
U.S. Route 76 bypasses the city center to the south and east. It leads west 24 miles (39 km) to Chatsworth and northeast 16 miles (26 km) to Blue Ridge. Georgia State Route 52 (Chatsworth Highway) also leads 24 miles (39 km) to Chatsworth, taking a more northerly route over Cohutta Mountain. Georgia State Route 515, the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway, leads northeast with US 76 to Blue Ridge and south 20 miles (32 km) to Jasper. Downtown Atlanta is 77 miles (124 km) to the south.
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