Find Electrician Schools Near Me in North Wilkesboro NC 28656

How to Become an Electrician in North Wilkesboro North Carolina

North Wilkesboro NC electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near North Wilkesboro NC. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment 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 being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near North Wilkesboro NC

North Wilkesboro NC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near North Wilkesboro NC. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by North Carolina technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by North Carolina junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some North Carolina institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

North Wilkesboro NC electricians working on power lines Electricians in North Wilkesboro NC can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about four to five years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic 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 Online Training Classes in North Wilkesboro NC

attending electrician school online in North Wilkesboro NC An alternative that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular 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 some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from North Wilkesboro NC are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

North Wilkesboro NC electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the North Wilkesboro NC region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the North Wilkesboro NC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at 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 could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher 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 employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist North Wilkesboro NC students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with North Wilkesboro NC area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local North Wilkesboro NC electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your North Wilkesboro home. 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 training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near North Wilkesboro NC, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near North Wilkesboro NC?

Following is a little bit of background information about the North Wilkesboro NC area.

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was approximately 4,116 at the 2000 census and is now 4,245 as of the 2010 census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, which continues to have a major presence in the community. The town is also known as one of the birthplaces of the sport of stock-car racing, and the North Wilkesboro Speedway was the first NASCAR-sanctioned track. Due to the town's proximity to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and the numerous tourist venues there, North Wilkesboro has been nicknamed the "Key to the Blue Ridge".

North Wilkesboro was founded in 1891 when the Norfolk and Southern Railroad built a railroad line into Wilkes County. The line ended on the northern bank of the Yadkin River opposite Wilkesboro, the county seat. The town of North Wilkesboro quickly developed around the railroad tracks. North Wilkesboro was the home of the Carolina Mirror Company, which for many years was the largest mirror factory in the United States. Although this is no longer the case, the town remains close to the industry through Gardner Glass Products Inc. Lowe's Foods, one of the Southeast's largest supermarket chains, was started in North Wilkesboro in 1954. Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, the nation's second-largest chain of home-improvement stores, was started in North Wilkesboro in 1946. Like many small towns and cities in rural North Carolina, North Wilkesboro has suffered since 1990 from the closing of nearly all of its textile and furniture factories, which have moved to low-wage locations in Latin America and Asia. The factories were a major part of the town's economic base. North Wilkesboro does continue to host large corporate offices including Gardner Glass Products Inc., Window World, and ECMD.

The North Wilkesboro Speedway, located just outside the city limits, predates the founding of NASCAR; the speedway held its first race on May 18, 1947[4] and from there it grew in popularity. On October 16, 1949, the Speedway held the 8th and final race of the 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Division; when the race was over Robert "Red" Byron had become the first NASCAR-sanctioned champion.[5] The North Wilkesboro Speedway held NASCAR races for 50 years; on September 29, 1996 Jeff Gordon would win the final race to be held at the speedway. In 1995, following the death of the long-time owner and track founder Enoch Staley, the speedway was purchased by two new owners, Bob Bahre and Bruton Smith. Soon after their purchase, both men announced that they were closing the speedway and moving its two NASCAR race dates to their new tracks in Texas and New Hampshire. The decision met with strong criticism from race fans. Since 1996 several unsuccessful attempts have been made to purchase and reopen the speedway to racing.

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrical Trade School near North Wilkesboro NC

Selecting the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training 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 should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in North Wilkesboro NC.