How to Become an Electrician in Newton Texas
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Newton TX. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. 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 picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Newton TX
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a trade or technical school near Newton TX. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Texas trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Texas junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Texas institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Newton TX can perform a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Newton TX
An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Newton TX are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Newton TX area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Newton TX program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Newton TX grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Newton TX area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Newton TX electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Newton home. Take note 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 important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some 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 experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Newton TX, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Newton TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Newton TX area.
Newton, Texas
Both Newton County and its county seat, Newton, were named after John Newton, a supposed hero of the American Revolutionary War. However, John Newton's heroics are said to be a product of Parson Weems, who also fictionalized the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. In 1853, disputes led to the building of a courthouse and town in the county's geographical center instead of in Burkeville, a community 11 miles north northeast of Newton. A second courthouse in Newton, a Second Empire style structure, was built in 1902-03 with bricks from nearby Caney Creek, according to a Texas Historical Commission marker. The town was incorporated in 1935 and remains the only incorporated city in the county. The town's public school began when the W.H. Ford Male and Female College was chartered in 1889. The site of the college later became the Powell Hotel and now serves as a museum and houses the city's chamber of commerce. The growth of the city during the first half of the 20th century was largely due to the dominant timber industry in East Texas. The town had at least one newspaper prior to 1920s. The county courthouse, a focal point of a city square that featured extensive Christmas lighting in the early 1990s, was severely damaged by a fire in August 2000. Various funding and other problems pushed back the time frame for the restoration of the edifice for several years. Completion of the rebuilding is estimated to be sometime in 2008. Although almost 80 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, Newton suffered extensive damage in September 2005 from Hurricane Rita. The National Weather Service estimated wind gusts in the vicinity of Newton to be between 80 mph to 100 mph. Some residents were without electricity for at least one month.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,459 people, 731 households, and 508 families residing in the city. The population density was 446.9 people per square mile (172.6/km²). There were 900 housing units at an average density of 163.6 per square mile (63.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.78% White, 31.60% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.02% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.28% of the population.
There were 731 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.12.
Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Newton TX
Picking the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach 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 some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Newton TX.
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