How to Find the Best Electrician Vocational School near Lauderdale Mississippi
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Lauderdale MS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Lauderdale MS. You may choose 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 other three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Mississippi trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by Mississippi junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Mississippi institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Lauderdale MS can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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) 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 delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Lauderdale MS are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lauderdale MS region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Lauderdale MS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lauderdale MS grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Lauderdale MS area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lauderdale MS electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Lauderdale residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Lauderdale MS, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
How To Become Electrical Technician Lauderdale Mississippi
Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become Electrical Technician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Schools. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lauderdale MS.
More Electric Locations in Mississippi
Lauderdale County, Mississippi
Lauderdale County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,261.[1] The county seat is Meridian.[2] The county is named for Colonel James Lauderdale, who was killed at the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.[3]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 78,161 people, 29,990 households, and 20,573 families residing in the county. The population density was 111 people per square mile (43/km²). There were 33,418 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (18/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.15% White, 38.18% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 29,990 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.
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