How to Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Lenoir North Carolina

The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Lenoir NC. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs

There are three general options to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Lenoir NC. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

• Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by North Carolina technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by North Carolina community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain North Carolina institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Electricians in Lenoir NC can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online

A possibility that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Lenoir NC are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lenoir NC region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Lenoir NC program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lenoir NC grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Lenoir NC area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Lenoir NC electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Lenoir home. 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 important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lenoir NC, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Electrical Technician Training Lenoir North Carolina

Choosing the best electrician 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 Technician Training and wanting more information on the topic Colleges That Offer Electrician Programs. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. 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 context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lenoir NC.

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