How to Become an Electrician in Houlka Mississippi
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Houlka MS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located several that are within driving range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Houlka MS
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Houlka MS. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Mississippi vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Mississippi institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Houlka MS can perform a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Houlka MS
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about 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 might be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Houlka MS are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Houlka MS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, 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 additional factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Houlka MS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Houlka MS students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Houlka MS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Houlka MS electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Houlka residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors 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 schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Houlka MS, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Houlka MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Houlka MS area.
New Houlka, Mississippi
New Houlka (/ˈhʌlkə/) is a town in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, United States. It was founded in 1904 to take advantage of a railway line of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad. Residents moved their buildings over from the original settlement, now referred to as "Old Houlka", located to the west. The population was 626 at the 2010 census.
Started around a fur trading post prior to 1794, Old Houlka is the oldest surviving settlement in north Mississippi.[4] In the 19th century, much of the land was developed for cotton plantations and the market town did good business.
The first American settlers arrived in the late 1700s and established a Chickasaw Agency House at Houlka for trading with the natives.[5] Agency representatives called the settlement "Holkey" in their earliest correspondence, which dates from 1794 after the United States gained independence from Great Britain.[4]
Enroll in the Right Electrical Tech School near Houlka MS
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Houlka MS.
Other Cool Cities in Mississippi
Business Results 1 - 10 of 25
2 Reviews 