How to Become an Electrician in Borger Texas
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Borger TX. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Borger TX
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Borger TX. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three 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 those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are provided by Texas junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Texas colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Borger TX can undertake a vast array 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 concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online in Borger TX
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Borger TX are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Borger TX region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Borger TX school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Borger TX graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Borger TX area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Borger TX electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Borger residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Borger TX, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Borger TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Borger TX area.
Borger, Texas
Borger is the largest city in Hutchinson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,251 at the 2010 census. Borger is named for businessman Asa Philip "Ace" Borger, who also established the Hutchinson County seat of Stinnett and several other small towns in Texas and Oklahoma.
The first Panhandle oil well was drilled in the Borger area on May 2, 1921, on the 6666 (the "Four Sixes") Ranch of S.B. Burnett. The strike was of a poor quality, and later wells in Borger and Pampa spurred the petroleum boom. The first rotary drilling rig, built at the then staggering price of $25,000, was placed into use near Borger by W.T. Willis, J.E. Trigg, and H.D. Lewis. The 6-inch-diameter (150 mm) drill could pierce through rock.[3]
Ace Borger and his business partner John R. Miller purchased a 240-acre (0.97 km2) townsite near the Canadian River in March 1926 after the discovery of oil in the vicinity. Within a few months time, the boomtown had swollen to a population of 45,000, most lured by sensational advertising and "black gold". In October 1926, the city charter was adopted, and Miller was elected mayor. By this time the Panhandle & Santa Fe Railway had completed the spur line to Borger, a post office had opened, and a school district was established. The boomtown of Borger soon had steam-generated electricity, telephone service, a hotel, and a jail. Regionalist artist Thomas Hart Benton depicted this period of Borger in his large painting Boomtown.[4]
Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Borger TX
Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Borger TX.
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