How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Dover Tennessee
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Dover TN. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk 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 Options
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Dover TN. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Tennessee vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Tennessee junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Tennessee institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Dover TN can carry out a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Dover TN are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Dover TN area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Dover TN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the teachers 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 more extensive list of graduates, which may mean 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 a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Dover TN graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Dover TN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Dover TN electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Dover residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Dover TN, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Online Electrician Certificate Programs Dover Tennessee
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician Certificate Programs and wanting more information on the topic What Do I Need To Do To Become An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Dover TN.
More Electric Locations in Tennessee
Dover, Tennessee
Dover is a city in and the county seat of Stewart County, Tennessee,[4] 67 miles (108 km) west-northwest of Nashville on the Cumberland River. An old national cemetery is in Dover. The population was 1,442 at the 2000 census and the 2010 census showed a population of 1,417.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,442 people, 608 households, and 373 families residing in the city. The population density was 379.9 people per square mile (146.5/km²). There were 656 housing units at an average density of 172.8 per square mile (66.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.73% White, 3.05% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 608 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 7
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 5 Reviews 