How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Tech School near Gulf Shores Alabama
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Gulf Shores AL. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting 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 becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Gulf Shores AL. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Alabama vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Alabama community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Alabama institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Gulf Shores AL can undertake a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually 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 might be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Gulf Shores AL are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Gulf Shores AL region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Gulf Shores AL school 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 receive an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Gulf Shores AL students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Gulf Shores AL area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained 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, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Gulf Shores AL electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Gulf Shores home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Gulf Shores 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. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Best Online Electrician School Gulf Shores Alabama
Choosing the best electrician 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 Best Online Electrician School and wanting more information on the topic How To Become A Licensed Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Gulf Shores AL.
More Electric Locations in Alabama
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 30°16'4.069" North, 87°42'5.285" West (30.267797, −87.701468).[4] It is the southernmost settlement in the state of Alabama.[5] It is served by Alabama State Route 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway), which leads north to Foley. Route 182 (Beach Boulevard) runs east-west along the shore front, while Route 180 (Fort Morgan Road) runs parallel to it, north of Little Lagoon. Gulf State Park occupies a large eastern part of the city.
Gulf Shores is located 33 miles (53 km) west of Pensacola, Florida, 54 miles (87 km) south of Mobile, 197 miles (317 km) east of New Orleans, 194 miles (312 km) south of Montgomery, and 55 miles (89 km) west of Navarre, Florida.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.0 square miles (72.5 km2), of which 23.2 square miles (60.0 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12.5 km2), or 17.24%, is water.[3]
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