How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Lecompte Louisiana
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lecompte LA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lecompte LA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Louisiana vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Louisiana community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Louisiana colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Lecompte LA can undertake a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose 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.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from Lecompte LA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lecompte LA area, it’s important 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 online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Lecompte LA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lecompte LA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Lecompte LA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Lecompte LA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lecompte home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lecompte LA, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
How To Become A Licensed Electrician Lecompte Louisiana
Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become A Licensed Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Best Trade School For Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lecompte LA.
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Lecompte, Louisiana
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,366 people, 516 households, and 330 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,344.8 people per square mile (517.1/km²). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 576.9 per square mile (221.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 24.96% White, 74.30% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 516 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 24.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the town, the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
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