How to Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Fountain Inn South Carolina
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Fountain Inn SC. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will talk about 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 educational choices that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Fountain Inn SC. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by South Carolina trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by South Carolina junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some South Carolina institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Fountain Inn SC can carry out a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An option that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Fountain Inn SC are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Fountain Inn SC region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Fountain Inn SC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course 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 course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help Fountain Inn SC students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Fountain Inn SC area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Fountain Inn SC electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Fountain Inn residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges 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 some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Fountain Inn SC, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Train To Become An Electrician Fountain Inn South Carolina
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Train To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Diploma Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Fountain Inn SC.
More Electric Locations in South Carolina
Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Fountain Inn is a city in Greenville and Laurens counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 7,799 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 6,017 in 2000. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Cannon Building, Fairview Presbyterian Church, Fountain Inn High School, Fountain Inn Principal's House and Teacherage, McDowell House, Robert Quillen Office and Library, Tullyton, and F. W. Welborn House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4][5][6]
The southern part of the city is in Laurens County, while the bulk of the city is in Greenville County. The city's nickname is "The Diamond Tip of the Golden Strip".[7] The city took its name from an inn and fountain that were along the old stagecoach route.[8] The stagecoach drivers called the stop "Fountain Inn", and it stuck. A small garden fountain is installed at City Hall, and there is a marker on the north side of town showing the former location of the old inn.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 26
11 Reviews 
28 Reviews 
7 Reviews 
3 Reviews 1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
18 Reviews 
5 Reviews 