How to Become an Electrician in South Fulton Tennessee
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near South Fulton TN. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near South Fulton TN
There are several approaches to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near South Fulton TN. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Tennessee vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Tennessee community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Tennessee colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in South Fulton TN can perform a multitude of functions, such as 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 most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in South Fulton TN
An option that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from South Fulton TN are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the South Fulton TN area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we discussed 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the South Fulton TN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist South Fulton TN students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with South Fulton TN area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish 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 working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local South Fulton TN electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your South Fulton home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near South Fulton TN, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near South Fulton TN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the South Fulton TN area.
South Fulton, Tennessee
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 2,517 people, 1,081 households, and 729 families residing in the city. The population density was 814.4 people per square mile (314.5/km²). There were 1,199 housing units at an average density of 388.0 per square mile (149.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.98% White, 19.47% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.
There were 1,081 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
Choose the Right Electrical Tech School near South Fulton TN
Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick 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 South Fulton TN.
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