How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Training School near Slidell Louisiana
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Slidell LA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Slidell LA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Louisiana technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by Louisiana community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Louisiana institutions, but are less favored at 4 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 performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Slidell LA can perform a multitude of tasks, including 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 become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:
- 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Slidell LA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Slidell LA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. 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 important when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received 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, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Slidell LA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Slidell LA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Slidell LA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Slidell LA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Slidell home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Slidell LA, verify that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Education Required To Be An Electrician Slidell Louisiana
Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education Required To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Trade Schools. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. 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 course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Slidell LA.
More Electric Locations in Louisiana
Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell /slaɪˈdɛl/ is a city on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 27,068 at the 2010 census.[3] Greater Slidell has a population of about 90,000.[4] It is part of the New Orleans−Metairie−Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.
One of the earlier settlers to the area was Foster Willie. Along with a younger brother, Wesley Coke Asbury Gause, Judge Wingate, and several others, he left Shallotte, North Carolina, on February 18, and arrived at Pearlington, Mississippi, on April 14, 1836. Wesley and his family remained there, while John and family crossed the Pearl River and built a log cabin on the west bank, a little further south. He then began a lumber mill in the fledgling town later known as Slidell. His traveling back and forth from lumber yard to home created a road known today as Gause Boulevard, a major east/west street in the town. The lumber yard was where Gause Boulevard crosses the railroad track. The log cabin was built at the east end of the road, just a few yards from the river. The house stood until the late 1990s, and a small family burial plot still remains where John is buried between his two wives, Lydia Russ and Johanna Frederica VanHeemskerk.
Slidell was founded on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in 1882 and 1883 during construction of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad (N.O.N.E.).[5] The N.O.N.E. line connected New Orleans to Meridian, Mississippi. The town was named in honor of American politician and Confederate ambassador to France John Slidell, father-in-law of real estate developer Baron Frederic Emile d'Erlanger, and officially chartered by the Louisiana State Legislature in 1888.[5]
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