How to Find the Right Electrician Trade School near Marietta Georgia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Marietta GA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Marietta GA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Georgia vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Georgia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Georgia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Marietta GA can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining 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 acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies 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 trade school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Marietta GA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Marietta GA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested 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 determination, there are other factors that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have earned 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 relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Marietta GA 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 acquire a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader 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 will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Marietta GA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Marietta GA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date 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 under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Marietta GA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Marietta home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Marietta GA, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Schooling For Electricians Marietta Georgia
Picking the best electrical trade school 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 Schooling For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Programs. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Marietta GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579. The 2017 estimate is 61,048, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest of the principal cities (by population) of the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area.[5][6]
The origin of the name is uncertain. It is believed that the city was named for Mary Cobb, the wife of U.S. Senator and Superior Court judge Thomas Willis Cobb. Judge Cobb is the namesake of the county.[7]
Homes were built by early settlers near the Cherokee town of Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) prior to 1824.[8] The first plat was laid out in 1833. Like most towns, Marietta had a square (see Marietta Square) in the center with a courthouse. The Georgia General Assembly legally recognized the community on December 19, 1834.[8]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 179
44 Reviews 
121 Reviews 
17 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
112 Reviews 
29 Reviews 
28 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
10 Reviews 
3 Reviews 