Electrical Programs Montevallo AL

How to Pick the Right Electrician Training School near Montevallo Alabama

Montevallo AL electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Montevallo AL. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will talk about 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 instructional choices that are accessible.

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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options

Montevallo AL electrician on power line poleThere are three general ways to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Montevallo AL. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most common programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Alabama trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Alabama junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Alabama colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Montevallo AL electrician wiring boxElectricians in Montevallo AL can carry out a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes

Montevallo AL student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Montevallo AL are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Questions to ask Montevallo AL electrician schoolsNow that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Montevallo AL region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Montevallo AL school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers 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 broader list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use 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 help Montevallo AL grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction 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 electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Montevallo AL area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area 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 working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Montevallo AL electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Montevallo residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with 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 evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Montevallo AL, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Electrical Programs Montevallo Alabama

Montevallo AL electricians working on power linesSelecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Programs and wanting more information on the topic Schooling For Electricians. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Montevallo AL.

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    Montevallo, Alabama

    Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. A college town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal arts university with approximately 3,000 students. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city of Montevallo is 6,323. Dr. Hollie Campbell Cost, a professor in the College of Education at the University of Montevallo, serves as Mayor.

    Montevallo is located at 33°6′18″N 86°51′46″W / 33.10500°N 86.86278°W / 33.10500; -86.86278 (33.1049, -86.8628).[3] A plaque on Reynolds Cemetery Road, just off Alabama State Route 25, in the eastern corner of the town, marks the geographic center of the state of Alabama. Middle Street, formerly known as Main Street, had its name changed in 1899 for this reason, upon the completion of a new state survey.[4]

    The area where Montevallo is now was once controlled by the Creek Indians. After being acquired in 1814 Jesse Wilson claimed a small hill on the northern bank of the Shoal Creek and created a homestead there, making it the oldest settlement in Shelby County. Wilson's friends and family followed afterwards and also settled in the area, and a settlement known as Wilson's Hill developed on the site. The settlement's location at almost the exact center of Alabama meant it was considered one of the potential sites for the University of Alabama. In an attempt to encourage the university to choose the site the settlement changed its name to Montevallo, which is Italian for the hill in the valley.

     

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