How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Jennings Louisiana
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Jennings LA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to examine. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Jennings LA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Louisiana vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are provided by Louisiana junior or community colleges, typically 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 Degree programs are accessible at certain Louisiana colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Jennings LA can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed 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 skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Jennings LA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Jennings LA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Jennings LA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Jennings LA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Jennings LA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Jennings LA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Jennings home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Jennings LA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Accredited Electrical Certification Training Jennings Louisiana
Selecting the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. 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 addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Jennings LA.
More Electric Locations in Louisiana
Jennings, Louisiana
Jennings is a city in and the parish seat of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States,[4] near Lake Charles. The population was 10,383 at the 2010 census, a small decline from the 2000 tabulation. The city is 68 percent white.[5]
Jennings is the principal city of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Jefferson Davis Parish. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles-Jennings Combined Statistical Area. It is also part of the large, 22-parish Acadiana region of the state, with a large Francophone population, many descended from early Acadian settlers.
Jennings McComb, for whom the town was named, was an Irish contractor of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He built the Jennings depot on a divide peculiar to southwest Louisiana. This became the center of new development based on the railroad. The first settler was recorded as A. D. McFarlain, who came in 1881 from St. Mary Parish and opened a store. McFarlain also became the first rice grower, postmaster, brick maker, and builder in the community. Prospering with Jennings’ growth, McFarlain was considered one of the town’s prominent businessmen and civic leaders.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 5
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 