How to Become an Electrician in Summertown Tennessee
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Summertown TN. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Summertown TN
There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Summertown TN. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Tennessee trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are offered by Tennessee community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Tennessee colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Summertown TN can carry out a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate 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 procedure usually entails 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 vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Summertown TN
An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Summertown TN are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Summertown TN region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. 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 crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Summertown TN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train 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 produce 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Summertown TN grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Summertown TN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using 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. If not, ask a local Summertown TN electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Summertown home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Summertown TN, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Summertown TN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Summertown TN area.
Summertown, Tennessee
Summertown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Lawrence County, Tennessee with a small portion in both Lewis County and Maury County.[3] The population of Summertown was 866 at the 2010 census.[2]
Choose the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Summertown TN
Picking the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed 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 prerequisite that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration 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. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Summertown TN.
Other Cool Cities in Tennessee
Business Results 1 - 10 of 32
2 Reviews 