How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Pocahontas Mississippi
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Pocahontas MS. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to consider. For instance, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only things that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general ways to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Pocahontas MS. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Mississippi vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly 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 provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Mississippi institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Pocahontas MS can perform a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Pocahontas MS are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Pocahontas MS region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Pocahontas MS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. 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 training programs you are looking at 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 suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Pocahontas MS graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Pocahontas MS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Pocahontas MS electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Pocahontas home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Pocahontas MS, check that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Accredited Electrical Certification Training Pocahontas Mississippi
Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Accredited Electrical Certification Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Apprenticeship School. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Pocahontas MS.
More Electric Locations in Mississippi
Hinds County, Mississippi
Hinds County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 245,285,[1] making it the most populous county in Mississippi. Its county seats are Raymond and Jackson, the state capital.[2] The county is named for General Thomas Hinds,[3] a hero of the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.
Hinds County is part of the Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is a center of professional, educational, business and industrial elites in the state. It is bordered on the northwest by the Big Black River and on the east by the Pearl River. It is one county width away from the Yazoo River and the southern border of the Mississippi Delta.
In the 19th century, the rural areas of the county were devoted to cotton plantations worked by enslaved African Americans and depended on agriculture well into the 20th century. From 1877 to 1950, this county had 22 lynchings, the highest number in the state. Mississippi has the highest total number of lynchings of any state.[4]
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