How to Choose the Best Electrician Tech School near Allentown Georgia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Allentown GA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Allentown GA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Georgia trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Georgia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Georgia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Allentown GA can undertake a multitude of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Allentown GA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Allentown GA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about 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 even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Allentown GA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 more extensive list of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Allentown GA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Allentown GA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Allentown GA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Allentown residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Allentown GA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
How To Be Electrician Allentown Georgia
Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Be Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electricians Trade School. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some 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 proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Allentown GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Allentown, Georgia
Allentown is a town in Bleckley, Laurens, Twiggs, and Wilkinson Counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, primarily in Wilkinson County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 169.[4] The Twiggs County portion is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Laurens County portion is part of the Dublin Micropolitan Statistical Area. The remaining Wilkinson and Bleckley County portions are not part of any metropolitan or micropolitan area.
Allentown was named in 1891 when the Macon, Dublin & Savannah Railroad was extended to that point.[5] John Allen, an early postmaster, gave the town his last name.[5] Allentown was incorporated in 1901.[6]
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 287 people, 121 households, and 72 families residing in the town. The population density was 93.1 people per square mile (36.0/km²). There were 129 housing units at an average density of 41.8 per square mile (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.46% White, 35.19% African American, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
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