How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Harwood Texas
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Harwood TX. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many factors to examine. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Harwood 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 prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Texas vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Texas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Texas institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most 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, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Harwood TX can perform a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with 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 offered differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Harwood TX are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Harwood TX area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. 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 needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Harwood TX program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors 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 result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Harwood TX students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Harwood TX area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Harwood TX electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Harwood residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Harwood TX, verify that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Top Electrician Schools Online Harwood Texas
Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Top Electrician Schools Online and wanting more information on the topic How Long To Become An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Harwood TX.
More Electric Locations in Texas
Harwood, Texas
Harwood is located at 29°39′57″N 97°30′19″W / 29.66583°N 97.50528°W / 29.66583; -97.50528Coordinates: 29°39′57″N 97°30′19″W / 29.66583°N 97.50528°W / 29.66583; -97.50528 (29.6657863, −97.5052724). It is situated along U.S. Highway 90 in northern Gonzales County, approximately one mile north of Interstate 10. The nearest major city is San Antonio, located 60 miles to the west.[2]
The community was founded in 1874 during the westward expansion of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. It was named after Thomas Moore Harwood, a lawyer from nearby Gonzales.[2] At the time of its founding, a community known as Mule Creek was located one mile west of Harwood. A post office operated in Mule Creek from 1872 to 1874, when Harwood was granted a post office. By 1880, Harwood had an estimated population of 155. That figure had grown to 350 by the early 1890s. To prevent the opening of a saloon that was opposed by most local residents, Harwood was incorporated in 1913.[1] The population was 200 at the 1920 census. After rising to 225 in 1930, Harwood slowly declined. Cotton production, which had been a major element of the local economy, decreased during the 1940s. The number of residents living in Harwood fell to 157 in 1950, 132 in 1960, and 112 in 1970. The town disincorporated during the 1970s. By 1990, Harwood had one large farm and ranch supply store, several businesses, and a community center with a collection of local memorabilia. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into 2000, Harwood was home to approximately 112 residents.[1][2]
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