How to Become an Electrician in Newport Tennessee
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Newport TN. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Newport TN
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Newport TN. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Tennessee vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Tennessee community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Tennessee colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Newport TN can undertake a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Newport TN
An option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school 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 case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Travelling expenses from Newport TN are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Newport TN region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Newport TN program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Newport TN grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Newport TN area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Newport TN electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Newport residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise 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 meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Newport TN, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. 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 protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Newport TN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Newport TN area.
Newport, Tennessee
Newport is a city in and the county seat of Cocke County, Tennessee, United States.[5] The population was 6,945 at the 2010 census,[6] down from 7,242 at the 2000 census. The estimated population in 2014 was 6,880.[7] It is located along the Pigeon River.
The Great Indian Warpath passed through what is now Newport en route to the ancient Cherokee hunting grounds of northeastern Tennessee.[8] The Warpath crossed the Pigeon River at a point approximately 0.2 miles (0.3 km) east of the McSween Memorial Bridge (US-321), in an area where the river is normally low enough to walk across.[9] The first European traders to the area, arriving in the mid-18th century, called this point along the Pigeon River the "War Ford".
During the American Revolution, the Cherokee aligned themselves with the British, and launched sporadic attacks against early Euro-American settlers in the Holston valley. In the waning months of the conflict in 1782, a detachment led by Gen. Charles McDowell of North Carolina crossed the mountains into what is now Tennessee to join up with Col. John Sevier's local forces and initiate an aggressive campaign against the hostile Cherokee. In August of that year, Sevier crossed the Pigeon at War Ford, attacking and killing several Cherokee camped along the river's banks. This assault was one of the final engagements of the Revolution.[9][10]
Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Newport TN
Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Newport TN.
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