How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Addison Texas
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Addison TX. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Addison TX. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Texas vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Texas community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Texas colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Addison TX can perform a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge 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 many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about 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 may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Addison TX are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Addison TX region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Addison TX school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Addison TX graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Addison TX area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Addison TX electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Addison home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Addison TX, verify that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
College Courses For Electricians Addison Texas
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in College Courses For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Training Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Addison TX.
More Electric Locations in Texas
Addison, Texas
Addison is an incorporated town[Note 1] in Dallas County, Texas, in the United States. Addison is situated to the immediate north of the city of Dallas. The town's population was 13,056 at the 2010 census.[4] Addison and Flower Mound were the only two Texas towns with a population greater than 10,000 in the 2010 census; since then the towns of Prosper and Trophy Club have also exceeded 10,000 in population estimates. Addison is best-known within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex region for its abundance of restaurants and nightlife.
As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 13,056 people, 7,378 total households, and 2,663 family households residing in the town. The population density was 3,200.0 people per square mile (1,234.7/km²). There were 8,205 housing units at an average density of 1,853.4 per square mile (715.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.79% White, 9.63% African American, 0.41% Native American, 7.81% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 10.79% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.04% of the population.
There were 7,378 households out of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.9% were non-families. 52.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.77 and the average family size was 2.69.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 298
135 Reviews 
24 Reviews 
16 Reviews 
31 Reviews 
41 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
44 Reviews 
9 Reviews 
10 Reviews 
39 Reviews 