How to Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Saint Matthews South Carolina
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Saint Matthews SC. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Saint Matthews SC. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by South Carolina vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by South Carolina community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain South Carolina colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Saint Matthews SC can undertake a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing 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 the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Saint Matthews SC are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Saint Matthews SC region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Saint Matthews SC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Saint Matthews SC graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Saint Matthews SC area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Saint Matthews SC electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Saint Matthews home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher 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 bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Saint Matthews SC, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits 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 Class Saint Matthews South Carolina
Choosing the best electrical trade school 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 Electrical Class and wanting more information on the topic Master Electrician School. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Saint Matthews SC.
More Electric Locations in South Carolina
Phillip Merling
Phillip Blaine Merling (born April 19, 1985) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson University.
Merling played tight end and defensive end at Fork Union Military Academy in 2004. He totaled 38 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns on offense and on defense he added five sacks, 51 tackles, and eight pass breakups. He had 20 catches for 430 yards and four scores as a senior and totaled 96 tackles and thirty four sacks as a senior. For that performance he was the MVP at Fork Union. After his senior year at Cordova High School, in Cordova, Tennessee, he played in the Tennessee/Kentucky All-Star game. He was also First-team All-state and All-region as a senior at Cordova High School. He played tight end and defensive end and helped his team reach the 6A state play-offs. Phillip had 9 quarterback sacks, 10 pass knock downs, 4 caused fumbles, 7 tackles for loss and he had 28 pass receptions for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns. Prior to Fork Union, Merling attended Calhoun County High School in Saint Matthews, SC, for three years.
Merling was also All-conference, All-region, and All-area in basketball as a sophomore and junior. He averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a senior and averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds as a junior.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 22
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
13 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 1 Reviews 