How to Become an Electrician in Blakely Georgia

The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Blakely GA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to 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 contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Blakely GA

There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Blakely GA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs available.

• Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Georgia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
• Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Georgia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Georgia institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Electricians in Blakely GA can perform a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Blakely GA

An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Blakely GA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Blakely GA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Blakely GA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools 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 might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train 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 list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Blakely GA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Blakely GA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment 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 tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Blakely GA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Blakely home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Blakely GA, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Blakely GA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Blakely GA area.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Trade School near Blakely GA

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Blakely GA.

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