How to Become an Electrician in Clarksdale Mississippi
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Clarksdale MS. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Clarksdale MS
There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Clarksdale MS. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Mississippi technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Mississippi community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Mississippi institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Clarksdale MS can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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 tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Clarksdale MS
An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more popular 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 obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Clarksdale MS are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Clarksdale MS region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Clarksdale MS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Clarksdale MS grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Clarksdale MS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional 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 working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Clarksdale MS electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Clarksdale home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging 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 instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Clarksdale MS, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Clarksdale MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Clarksdale MS area.
Clarksdale, Mississippi
The western boundary of the county is formed by the Mississippi River. Located in the Mississippi Delta region, Clarksdale is an agricultural and trading center. It has been home to many blues musicians. Clarksdale is named after John Clark, who founded the city in the mid-19th century.
Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians occupied the Delta region prior to the arrival of European settlers. Clarksdale was developed at the former intersection of two Indian routes: the Lower Creek Trade Path, which extended westward from Augusta, Georgia, to New Mexico; and the Chakchiuma Trade Trail, which ran northeastward to the former village at present-day Pontotoc, Mississippi.[3]
The first removal treaty carried out under the Indian Removal Act was the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, by which the Choctaw people ceded about 11 million acres in exchange for about 15 million acres in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). A similar forced removal of the Chickasaw Nation began in 1837; once in Indian Territory, they paid the Choctaw US$530,000 for the westernmost part of their land.[citation needed]
Select the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Clarksdale MS
Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Clarksdale MS.
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