How to Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Atkinson North Carolina
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Atkinson NC. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Atkinson NC. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by North Carolina vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by North Carolina junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain North Carolina colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Atkinson NC can perform a vast array of duties, including 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 be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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 important that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Atkinson NC are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Atkinson NC region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive 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 Atkinson NC program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 Atkinson NC grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Atkinson NC area electricians or electrical professionals. 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 tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Atkinson NC electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Atkinson home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Atkinson NC, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Training Programs Atkinson North Carolina
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training Programs and wanting more information on the topic Electric College. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Atkinson NC.
More Electric Locations in North Carolina
Atkinson, North Carolina
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 236 people, 106 households, and 71 families residing in the town. The population density was 238.5 people per square mile (92.0/km²). There were 117 housing units at an average density of 118.3 per square mile (45.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.41% White and 10.59% African American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.
There were 106 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town, the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 19
5 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
4 Reviews 1 Reviews 1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 5 Reviews 
1 Reviews 