How to Become an Electrician in Jackson Tennessee
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Jackson TN. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For instance, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Jackson TN
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Jackson TN. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Tennessee vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Tennessee community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Tennessee institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Jackson TN can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Jackson TN
A possibility that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Jackson TN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Jackson TN region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain 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 Jackson TN program 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 make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order 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 finish the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 assist Jackson TN students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Jackson TN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Jackson TN electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Jackson residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out 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 Jackson TN, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Jackson TN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Jackson TN area.
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Tennessee. Located 70 miles (110 km) east of Memphis, it is a regional center of trade for West Tennessee. Its total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census and 67,265 in the 2012 Census estimate.[5]
Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area. Jackson is Madison County's[6] largest city, and the second-largest city in West Tennessee next to Memphis. It is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court's courthouse for West Tennessee, as Jackson was the major city in the west when the court was established in 1834.
In the antebellum era, Jackson was the market city for an agricultural area based on cultivation of cotton, the major commodity crop. Beginning in 1851, the city became a hub of railroad systems ultimately connecting to major markets in the north and south, as well as east and west. This was key to its development, attracting trade and many workers on the railroads in the late 19th century with the construction of railroads after the American Civil War. Through the 1960s, the city was served by 15 passenger trains daily, but industry restructuring reduced such service and caused the loss of jobs. The economy has adjusted to new businesses, with major manufacturing in the area.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Jackson TN
Selecting the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin 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 looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Jackson TN.
Other Cool Cities in Tennessee
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
1 Reviews 