How to Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Decatur Georgia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Decatur GA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Decatur GA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Georgia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Georgia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Georgia colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Decatur GA can perform a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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 pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Decatur GA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Decatur GA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Decatur GA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Decatur GA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Decatur GA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Decatur GA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Decatur residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Decatur GA, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
College Courses For Electricians Decatur Georgia
Selecting the right electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in College Courses For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Training Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Decatur GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia that is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 20,148 in the 2013 census,[3] the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name. The city is served by three MARTA rail stations. The city is located approximately 5 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with Atlanta.
Decatur was established at the intersection of two Native American trails: the Sandtown, which led east from the Chattahoochee River at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford, which follows today's Clairmont Road, and eventually crossed near Roswell. It was named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur.
During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. In July 1864, Major-General James McPherson occupied the town to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta. On July 22, during the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate cavalry under Major-General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A historical marker at the old courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 192
3 Reviews 
27 Reviews 
32 Reviews 
61 Reviews 
28 Reviews 
120 Reviews 
20 Reviews 
31 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
12 Reviews 