Electrical Technology Schools Gaston NC

How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Gaston North Carolina

Gaston NC electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Gaston NC. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options

Gaston NC electrician on power line poleThere are three general options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Gaston NC. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by North Carolina trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by North Carolina junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some North Carolina institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Gaston NC electrician wiring boxElectricians in Gaston NC can carry out a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three levels of proficiency:

  • An experience requirement
  • Passing a written exam
  • Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools

Gaston NC student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Gaston NC are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Questions to ask Gaston NC electrician schoolsNow that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Gaston NC area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option 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 taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Gaston NC program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Gaston NC graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Gaston NC area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Gaston NC electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Gaston home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Gaston NC, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Electrical Technology Schools Gaston North Carolina

Gaston NC electricians working on power linesSelecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technology Schools and wanting more information on the topic How To Become Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program 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 ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Gaston NC.

More Electric Locations in North Carolina

  • Evening Electrician Courses Proctorville NC
  • Online Electrical School Mayodan NC
  • Train To Be An Electrician Sugar Grove NC
  • Top Electrician Schools Online Haw River NC
  • Train As Electrician Rex NC
  • Vocational School For Electrician Drexel NC
  • Electrician Courses Near Me Arden NC
  • Electrician Classes Scottville NC
  • Online Electrician Degree Lexington NC
  • Electrician College Buxton NC
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

     

    Gaston County, North Carolina

    Gaston County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 206,086.[1] The county seat is Gastonia.[2]Dallas served as the original county seat from 1846 until 1911.

    Gaston County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the third largest county in the metropolitan area, behind Mecklenburg County and York County, SC. It is located in the southern Piedmont region.

    Of North Carolina's one hundred counties, Gaston County ranks 74th in size, consisting of approximately 364.5 square miles (944 km2), and is seventh in population. The county has fifteen incorporated towns.[3]

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 2

    Shell Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    1411 US Hwy 158, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

    Jonathan's Electric
    5 Reviews
    Contractors, Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment
    Phone:
    Newport News, VA 23601