How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Newton North Carolina
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Newton NC. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Newton NC. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by North Carolina trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are offered by North Carolina community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some North Carolina colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Newton NC can carry out a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way 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 receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Newton NC are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Newton NC area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Newton NC school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course 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 program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Newton NC students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Newton NC area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Newton NC electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Newton residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some 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 programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Newton NC, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Technical Schools For Electricians Newton North Carolina
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Technical Schools For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrical Certification Training. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick 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 Newton NC.
More Electric Locations in North Carolina
Newton, North Carolina
Newton is located at the center of Catawba County, at 35°39'54" North, 81°13'28" West (35.665082, -81.224351).[6] It is bordered to the north by Conover and to the northwest by Hickory. Claremont is to the northeast, and Maiden is to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.8 square miles (35.8 km2), of which 13.8 square miles (35.7 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.37%, is water.[4]
As of the census[2] of 2000, there are 12,560 people, 5,007 households, and 3,314 families residing in the city. The population density is 968.4 people per square mile (373.9/km²). There are 5,368 housing units at an average density of 413.9 per square mile (159.8/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 77.58% White, 12.33% Black or African American, 9.52% Hispanic or Latino American, 3.40% Asian American, 0.43% Native American, 0.03% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 4.63% some other race, and 1.60% two or more races.
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