How to Become an Electrician in Collins Mississippi
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Collins MS. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Collins MS
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Collins MS. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Mississippi technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Mississippi institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Collins MS 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 finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Collins MS
An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Collins MS are also minimized 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 accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Collins MS area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Collins MS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Collins MS grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction 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 contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Collins MS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Collins MS electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Collins residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Collins MS, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Collins MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Collins MS area.
Collins, Mississippi
Collins was originally incorporated as Williamsburg Depot in 1899. The Gulf and Ship Island Railroad had completed construction, and bypassed Williamsburg, the county seat at that time. The sawmills moved to the new town of Williamsburg Depot in order to be closer to the railroad. As lumber was an important industry during the time, the town moved with them. Not long after, Williamsburg Depot grew to a town of 6,000 - 7,000 people.[5]
Eventually, the difficulties of having such a long town name, Williamsburg Depot, became clear. The length caused many people to write it over their stamps, voiding the postage. In order to correct this issue, the postmaster asked to have the town name changed in 1905, and the postal service came up with a short and easy name "Bad". For reasons that may be clear, the residents rejected this name, and eventually came up with Collins, in honor of Fred W. Collins, leader of the state's Republican party and U. S. Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi. The town's name was officially changed on November 24, 1906.[6]
In 1906, a portion of the west side of Covington County became Jefferson Davis County. As a result, Williamsburg lost its position at the center of the county, and a new county seat was needed. Collins eventually emerged over Seminary and Ora as this location, and a new county courthouse was built. The first court was held in 1908.[6]
Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Collins MS
Choosing the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Collins MS.
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