How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Piedmont South Carolina
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Piedmont SC. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Piedmont SC. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by South Carolina technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by South Carolina junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some South Carolina institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Piedmont SC can carry out a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Piedmont SC are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Piedmont SC area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Piedmont SC 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 quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Piedmont SC grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Piedmont SC area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Piedmont SC electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Piedmont residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some 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 assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Piedmont SC, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Electrician Trade Schools Piedmont South Carolina
Choosing the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Trade Schools and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrical School. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Piedmont SC.
More Electric Locations in South Carolina
Piedmont, South Carolina
Native Americans and early settlers of Piedmont called the area "Big Shoals of the Saluda" after the Saluda River. The Native Americans used the shoals as a crossing. David Garrison established a grist mill around 1850 upon the shoals changing the name of the area to Garrison Shoals. Henry Pinckney Hammett bought this property for his cotton mill that used water power of the shoals. The name of the area changed again to Piedmont, "Foot of the Mountains" and became a mill town. The American Civil War disrupted Hammett's project until 1876 when his plant began operations. Piedmont was added to Hammett's charter for Piedmont Manufacturing Company and a railroad station. Water power from the Saluda River was also used to produce electricity to run the machinery from the 1880s to the 1920s. The machinery of the Piedmont Manufacturing Company was from Saco Lowell and Whitin Machine Works that helped finance Hammett's company.[4] In 1946 the mills were sold to J.P. Stevens and Company where it then was updated with modern features. Manufacturing continued until 1977 and in 1983 most of Piedmont Manufacturing Company burned down.[5]
Piedmont is located in northern Anderson County and southwestern Greenville County at 34°42′15″N 82°27′41″W / 34.70417°N 82.46139°W / 34.70417; -82.46139 (34.704140, -82.461427).[6] It is 12 miles (19 km) south of the center of Greenville. Exit 35 on Interstate 85 is 2 miles (3 km) to the west of the center of Piedmont. South Carolina state road 86 cuts through the small town also, connecting with Interstate 85 at Exit 35. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.7 km2), of which 8.6 square miles (22.3 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 1.93%, is water.[3] The Saluda River flows southwards over a dam through the center of town.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,684 people, 1,829 households, and 1,349 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 545.6 people per square mile (210.8/km²). There were 1,992 housing units at an average density of 232.0 per square mile (89.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.08% White, 5.85% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
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