How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Trade School near Lakemont Georgia
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Lakemont GA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lakemont GA. You can select 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 alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Georgia vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are provided by Georgia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Georgia institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Lakemont GA can perform a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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) and also 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 academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Lakemont GA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lakemont GA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired 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 example electrical technology. Make certain that the Lakemont GA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified 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 more extensive list of graduates, which can result in 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Lakemont GA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Lakemont GA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Lakemont GA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lakemont residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lakemont GA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Become Licensed Electrician Lakemont Georgia
Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Become Licensed Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Courses Night School. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lakemont GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Lakemont, Georgia
Lakemont is an unincorporated community in Rabun County, Georgia, United States, located in a mountainous area between U.S. Route 23/441 and Lake Rabun. Lakemont has a post office with ZIP code 30552.[2][3]
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