How to Find the Right Electrician Trade School near Saint Stephen South Carolina
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Saint Stephen SC. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Saint Stephen SC. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by South Carolina trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by South Carolina community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain South Carolina colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Saint Stephen SC can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing 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 most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Saint Stephen SC are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each 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.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Saint Stephen SC region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two 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 while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Saint Stephen SC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Saint Stephen SC graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical 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 electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Saint Stephen SC area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Saint Stephen SC electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Saint Stephen residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Saint Stephen SC, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Online Electrician School Saint Stephen South Carolina
Choosing the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Electrician School and wanting more information on the topic Online Electrician Program. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum 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 need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably 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 some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Saint Stephen SC.
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