How to Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Ashford Alabama
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Ashford AL. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Ashford AL. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive 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 offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Alabama trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Alabama junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Alabama institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Ashford AL can undertake a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Ashford AL are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Ashford AL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, 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 enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Ashford AL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Ashford AL students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along 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 electrical companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Ashford AL area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local 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 using in the field. 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 Ashford AL electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Ashford residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Ashford AL, verify that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Top Electrician Trade Schools Ashford Alabama
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Top Electrician Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic How To Be Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Probably 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 attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Ashford AL.
More Electric Locations in Alabama
Ashford, Alabama
Ashford is a town[4] in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was incorporated in June 1891.[5] For most of its history, it was a center for naval stores production, pulpwood harvesting, and cotton agriculture. The population was 2,148 at the 2010 census,[6] up from 1,853 at the 2000 census.
Ashford is located slightly northeast of the center of Houston County at 31°11′3″N 85°14′7″W / 31.18417°N 85.23528°W / 31.18417; -85.23528 (31.184032, -85.235286).[7]U.S. Route 84 passes through the southern part of the town, leading west 9 miles (14 km) to Dothan and southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Donalsonville, Georgia. The Chattahoochee River, which forms the Georgia state line, is 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Ashford on US 84.
Ashford's former mayor is Jonathon Grecu, he resigned from office on December 31, 2017. On January 8, 2018 Carole Barfield took office. As of October 2018, the current mayor is Carole Barfield, and City Council members are Gary Gibson, Ronnie Whitehead, Alan Anderson, James Smith, and Denise Herndon. The recreation director for the City of Ashford is Louis Edmondson. The City Clerk is currently open for employment.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 