Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Greer SC 29650

How to Become an Electrician in Greer South Carolina

Greer SC electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Greer SC. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Greer SC

Greer SC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Greer SC. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by South Carolina technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by South Carolina community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some South Carolina colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Greer SC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Greer SC can carry out a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of competency:

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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Greer SC

attending electrician school online in Greer SC An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Greer SC are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Greer SC electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Greer SC area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, 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 choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Greer SC program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, 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 confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Greer SC students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Greer SC area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Greer SC 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 Greer residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Greer SC, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Greer SC?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Greer SC area.

Greer, South Carolina

Greer is a city in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 25,515 as of the 2010 census[3] and had risen to an estimated 28,365 as of 2015. The eastern part of the city is in Spartanburg County, while the bulk of the city is in Greenville County. It is part of the Greenville–Anderson–Mauldin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is additionally part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area in Upstate South Carolina.

Greer is adjacent to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), which serves Greenville, Spartanburg, and the Upstate. Greer is also the site of the only BMW manufacturing facility in North America. According to a June 2005 article in The Greenville News, BMW's Greer plant employs about 9,000 people, and has attracted dozens of suppliers in South Carolina, providing jobs for more than 12,000 people. Greer is home to the South Carolina Inland Port, an intermodal facility that receives and sends containers by rail to the Port of Charleston.

Greer is located at 34°55′49″N 82°13′30″W / 34.93028°N 82.22500°W / 34.93028; -82.22500 (34.930304, −82.225052).[4] It is 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Greenville and 17 miles (27 km) west of Spartanburg, both via U.S. Route 29.

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Select the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Greer SC

Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Greer SC.