Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Athens TX 75751

How to Become an Electrician in Athens Texas

Athens TX electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Athens TX. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few 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 factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Athens TX

Athens TX electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Athens TX. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Texas technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are offered by Texas junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Texas colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Athens TX electricians working on power lines Electricians in Athens TX can undertake a multitude of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to 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 normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Athens TX

attending electrician school online in Athens TX An option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Athens TX are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Athens TX electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Athens TX area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Athens TX school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high 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 can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Athens TX grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Athens TX area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Athens TX electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Athens home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

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 at night or on weekends near Athens TX, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Athens TX?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Athens TX area.

Athens, Texas

Athens is a city in Henderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,710.[6] It is the county seat of Henderson County.[7] The city has called itself the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World."[8] Athens was selected as one of the first "Certified Retirement Communities" in Texas.[9] It was named after Athens, Alabama, by one of the early residents who came from there.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km2), of which 16.8 square miles (43.6 km2) are land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km2), or 12.32%, are water.[6]

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 12,710 people, 4,110 households, and 2,807 families residing in the city. The population density was 772.8 people per square mile (298.3/km²). There were 4,549 housing units at an average density of 311.2 per square mile (120.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.14% White, 19.23% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.17% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 17.37% of the population.

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Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Athens TX

Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Athens TX.