How to Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Lake Mississippi
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lake MS. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss 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 instructional options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Lake MS. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Mississippi trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Mississippi community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Mississippi institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Lake MS can perform a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies 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 choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Lake MS are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lake MS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest 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 important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Lake MS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Lake MS grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together 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 companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Lake MS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools 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 specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lake MS electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lake home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger 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 instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lake MS, check that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Education Requirements For Electrician Lake Mississippi
Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education Requirements For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Classes. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lake MS.
More Electric Locations in Mississippi
Horn Lake, Mississippi
Horn Lake is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States which is located south of Memphis, Tennessee. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Horn Lake was 26,066,[4] up from 14,099 in 2000.
Horn Lake is bordered to the north, east, and southeast by the city of Southaven. U.S. Route 51 forms a large portion of Horn Lake's eastern border; it leads north 15 miles (24 km) to downtown Memphis, and south 9 miles (14 km) to Hernando, the DeSoto County seat. Interstate 55 passes just east of Horn Lake, with access from Exits 287,289 and 901.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Horn Lake has an area of 16.3 square miles (42.3 km2), of which 16.0 square miles (41.5 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2), or 1.98%, is water.[4]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 