Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Gladewater TX region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two 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 a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain 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 Gladewater TX school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.<\/p>\nHigh Completion and Placement Rates. <\/strong>Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and\/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Gladewater TX graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Gladewater TX area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Gladewater TX electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Gladewater residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Gladewater TX, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Gladewater TX?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Gladewater TX area.<\/p>\n
Gladewater, Texas<\/h3>
The town is probably most famous as a base during Elvis Presley's early career,[5] and also as the town in which Johnny Cash wrote \"I Walk the Line\". In the early 20th century, Gladewater was an oil boom town. Gladewater is known as the \"Antique Capital of East Texas\" with its Main Street downtown antique district.<\/p>
It is located in western Gregg County and southern Upshur County at 32\u00b032\u203234\u2033N 94\u00b056\u203249\u2033W\ufeff \/ \ufeff32.54278\u00b0N 94.94694\u00b0W\ufeff \/ 32.54278; -94.94694 (32.542666, -94.946950),[6] primarily within Gregg County. U.S. Route 80 leads east 12 miles (19\u00a0km) to Longview and west 10 miles (16\u00a0km) to Big Sandy. U.S. Route 271 crosses US 80 in the center of Gladewater, leading north 14 miles (23\u00a0km) to Gilmer and southwest 25 miles (40\u00a0km) to Tyler.<\/p>
According to the United States Census Bureau, Gladewater has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.5\u00a0km2), of which 11.6 square miles (30.0\u00a0km2) are land and 0.54 square miles (1.4\u00a0km2), or 4.61%, are water.[4] The Sabine River forms the southwest border of the city.<\/p><\/div>\n