Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Columbus MS 39701

How to Become an Electrician in Columbus Mississippi

Columbus MS electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Columbus MS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Columbus MS

Columbus MS electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Columbus MS. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Mississippi trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Mississippi junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Mississippi colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Columbus MS electricians working on power lines Electricians in Columbus MS can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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 choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Columbus MS

attending electrician school online in Columbus MS A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Columbus MS are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Columbus MS electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Columbus MS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Columbus MS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 complete the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Columbus MS students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Columbus MS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local 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, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Columbus MS electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Columbus home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Columbus MS, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Columbus MS?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Columbus MS area.

Columbus, Mississippi

Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, on the eastern border of Mississippi, United States,[2] located primarily east, but also north and northeast of the Tombigbee River, which is also referred to as the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway [3]. It is approximately 146 miles (235 km) northeast of Jackson, 92 miles (148 km) north of Meridian, 63 miles (101 km) south of Tupelo, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and 120 miles (193 km) west of Birmingham, Alabama.[3]

The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census and 23,640 in 2010.[4] The population in 2012 was estimated to be 23,452.[4] Columbus is the principal city of the Columbus Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Columbus-West Point Combined Statistical Area. Columbus is also part of the area of Mississippi called The Golden Triangle, consisting of Columbus, West Point and Starkville, in the counties of Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha.

The first record of the site of Columbus in Western history is found in the annals of the explorer Hernando de Soto, who is reputed to have crossed the nearby Tombigbee River on his search for El Dorado. However, the site does not enter the main continuity of United States history until December 1810, when John Pitchlynn, the U.S. Indian agent and interpreter for the Choctaw Nation, moved to Plymouth Bluff, where he built a home, established a farm, and transacted Choctaw Agency business.

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Columbus MS

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Columbus MS.