How to Select the Right Electrician Training School near Knoxville Georgia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Knoxville GA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Knoxville GA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Georgia technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Georgia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Georgia institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Knoxville GA can undertake a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Knoxville GA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Knoxville GA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired 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 a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Knoxville GA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Knoxville GA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together 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 companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Knoxville GA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers 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. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Knoxville GA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Knoxville residence. 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 desirable 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 see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments regarding 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. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Knoxville GA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Certification Classes Knoxville Georgia
Picking the right electrical trade school 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 Electrical Certification Classes and wanting more information on the topic How To Learn To Be An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess 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 instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Knoxville GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Knoxville, Georgia
Knoxville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Crawford County, Georgia, United States. It is the Crawford County seat.[3] The community is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, Knoxville had a population of 69.[4]
Knoxville was founded in 1823 as seat of the newly formed Crawford County. It was incorporated as a town in 1825.[5] The former city's municipal charter was dissolved in 1995 pursuant to a Georgia law which abolished city governments which were defunct or minimally operative.
There is confusion in the topic of for whom Knoxville was named for. Historians who rely on old records and spoken tradition have pointed to General Henry Knox,[6] who served the Continental Army under George Washington, though General Knox had no ties to the state of Georgia and had been deceased for 15 years at the time of naming (c. 1821). Some historians argue that the town was named for Hugh Knox, a stagecoach operator who delivered mail along the Federal Wire Line through the future location of Knoxville.[7] Knox owned a half-way house, where you could rest and swap horses, called the Knox House. Since there is no solid evidence of either of these men being the namesake of the town, it is left open to the individual interpreter.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 8
1 Reviews 
12 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
8 Reviews 