How to Become an Electrician in Summerville Georgia
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Summerville GA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician 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 educational choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Summerville GA
There are multiple ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Summerville GA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable 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 most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Georgia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Georgia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Georgia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Summerville GA can undertake a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Summerville GA
A possibility that you may have looked at 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 the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Summerville GA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Summerville GA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Summerville GA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to train 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 alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Summerville GA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Summerville GA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Summerville GA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Summerville home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized 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 observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Summerville GA, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Summerville GA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Summerville GA area.
Summerville, Georgia
Summerville was founded in 1838 as seat of the newly formed Chattooga County. It was incorporated as a town in 1839 and as a city in 1909.[5] Summerville was named from the fact it was a popular summer resort.[6] The city thrived in the late 1880s with the construction of the Chattanooga, Rome and Columbus Railroad (later part of the Central of Georgia system).[7]
The Chattooga County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1909.[7] The Summerville Depot, completed by the Central of Georgia in 1918, is also listed on the National Register, and is home to several annual festivals.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), all of it land. The city lies along the Chattooga River at the western base of an elongate mountain known as Taylor Ridge. U.S. Route 27 connects Summerville with Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the north, and Rome to the southeast. Georgia State Route 114 connects the city with Lyerly to the south, and Georgia State Route 48 connects the city with Menlo near the Alabama state line to the west.
Enroll in the Right Electrician Trade School near Summerville GA
Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Summerville GA.
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