How to Become an Electrician in Plainview Texas
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Plainview TX. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many variables to examine. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Plainview TX
There are three general options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Plainview TX. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Texas trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Texas community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Texas colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Plainview TX can perform a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of proficiency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Plainview TX
A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent 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 partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Plainview TX are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech 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 Training Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Plainview TX region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Plainview TX school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative 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 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 Plainview TX grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Plainview TX area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Plainview TX electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Plainview residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Plainview TX, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, 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 Plainview TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Plainview TX area.
Plainview, Texas
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 22,336 people, 7,626 households, and 5,666 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,621.0 inhabitants per square mile (625.9/km2). There were 8,471 housing units at an average density of 614.8/sq mi (237.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 63.21% White, 5.87% African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 26.53% from other races, and 2.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 49.83% of the population.
There were 7,626 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size is 4.
In the city, the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Plainview TX
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Plainview TX.
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