How to Pick the Best Electrician Trade School near Midway Georgia
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Midway GA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Midway GA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Georgia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Georgia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered 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 no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Midway GA can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools 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 receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Midway GA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What 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. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Midway GA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have acquired 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 pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Midway GA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Midway GA students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Midway GA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Midway GA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Midway residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might 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 a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Midway GA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Schools That Offer Electrician Training Midway Georgia
Selecting the right electrician 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 Schools That Offer Electrician Training and wanting more information on the topic Accredited Electrician Degree Programs. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite 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 should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Midway GA.
More Electric Locations in Georgia
Midway, Georgia
Midway is a city in Liberty County, Georgia, United States. It is a part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statistical area. Midway is situated near Savannah, Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island. The population was 2,121 as of the 2010 census.
Midway has several museums, including the Midway Museum and Cemetery and the Dorchester Academy Museum. Midway is surrounded by wetlands. There are also two islands, Colonel's Island and Dolphin Island.
Midway's history dates back to the 18th century. Puritans migrated to St. John's Parish, Georgia, from Dorchester, South Carolina, in 1752 and established several settlements including what became the Midway community. The Council of Georgia granted them 31,950 acres (129.3 km2), as colonial officials wanted a large number of settlers in the area to help protect them from the Creek Indians. The original Midway settlers were primarily rice planters and developed a strong agricultural economy, aided by the 1,500 slaves they brought from South Carolina.[4]
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