How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Vocational School near Bankston Alabama
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Bankston AL. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss 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 instructional choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Bankston AL. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Alabama vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by Alabama community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Alabama institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Bankston AL can carry out a vast array of functions, 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 most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as 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 vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Bankston AL are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Bankston AL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 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 a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Bankston AL program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Bankston AL grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Bankston AL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Bankston AL electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Bankston residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Bankston AL, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. 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 policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Accredited Electrician Certification Training Bankston Alabama
Choosing the best electrician 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 Accredited Electrician Certification Training and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrician Certificate Programs. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Bankston AL.
More Electric Locations in Alabama
Jesse Bankston
Jesse Homer Bankston Sr. (October 7, 1907 – November 25, 2010)[1] was a politician within the Democratic Party of Louisiana, a businessman, and, at his death at the age of 103, a member of the board of Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Bankston became involved in a dispute in 1959 with Governor Earl Kemp Long which led to Bankston's dismissal as the director of the State Department of Hospitals. Long's estranged wife, Blanche Revere Long, had committed him to the Southeast Louisiana (Mental) Hospital in Mandeville.
Long ordered Bankston, an otherwise loyal supporter, to discharge him, but Bankston refused because he believed that Long needed treatment; his recent behavior had been erratic.[2] With the affirmation of Lieutenant Governor Lether Frazar, Attorney General Jack P.F. Gremillion, and the Senate President Pro Tempore, Long fired Bankston and replaced him with a pliable supporter, who immediately took steps to release the governor from the hospital. During this confrontation, Bankston was also at odds with his political ally, State Senator Sixty Rayburn of Bogalusa in Washington Parish, who remained steadfast to Long.[3]
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