How to Select the Best Electrician Tech School near Blakely Georgia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Blakely GA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. 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
There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Blakely GA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Georgia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Georgia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Georgia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Blakely GA can perform a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Blakely GA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Blakely GA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Blakely GA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 Blakely GA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Blakely GA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Blakely GA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Blakely home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging 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 teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Blakely GA, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Technical School For Electrician Blakely Georgia
Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Technical School For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Courses College. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Blakely GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Blakely, Georgia
Blakely is located at 31°22′36″N 84°56′2″W / 31.37667°N 84.93389°W / 31.37667; -84.93389 (31.376728, -84.933873).[8] The city is located in southwestern Georgia along U.S. Route 27, Georgia State Route 62, and Georgia State Route 39. Blakely is located approximately 75 mi (121 km) south of Columbus, 48 mi (77 km) southwest of Albany, and 76 mi (122 km) northwest of Tallahassee, Florida and 24 miles northeast of Dothan, Alabama.
According to the United States Census Bureau, this town has a total area of 17.6 square miles (46 km2), of which 17.5 square miles (45 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.74%) is water.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 5,696 people, 2,060 households, and 1,413 families residing in this town. The population density was 326.0 people per square mile (125.9/km²). There were 2,251 housing units at an average density of 128.8 per square mile (49.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.34% White, 59.97% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
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