How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Charleston Tennessee
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Charleston TN. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Charleston TN. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Tennessee vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Tennessee community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Tennessee institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Charleston TN can undertake a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of proficiency:
- 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 important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Charleston TN are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Charleston TN area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Charleston TN school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may result in 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Charleston TN grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Charleston TN area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Charleston TN electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Charleston home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Charleston TN, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Programs Charleston Tennessee
Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Programs and wanting more information on the topic How To Become An Electrical Technician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Charleston TN.
More Electric Locations in Tennessee
Charleston, Tennessee
Charleston was the site of the last Cherokee Agency as well as Fort Cass, the headquarters of the Cherokee Removal of 1838, known as the Trail of Tears. The valley between Charleston and Cleveland, Tennessee was filled for 12 miles (19 km) with internment camps in which thousands of Cherokee from various towns waited during the summer of 1838 for the start of the main trek west (Duncan 2003:261).
Charleston is situated along the south bank of the Hiwassee River, which flows down out of the Appalachian Mountains several miles to the east and empties into the Chickamauga Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River several miles to the west. The river forms the boundary between Bradley County and McMinn County. Calhoun, Charleston's sister city, is situated on the north bank of the Hiwassee, on the McMinn County side.
Charleston is traversed by U.S. Route 11, which enters the city from Calhoun to the north and exits the city en route to Cleveland to the south. Interstate 75, which roughly parallels U.S. 11 in the area, runs along Charleston's western boundary, and is connected to the city by State Route 308.
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