What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Magnolia AR region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical technical school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Magnolia AR program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.<\/p>\nHigh Completion and Placement Rates. <\/strong>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 program. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify 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 may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Magnolia AR students secure apprenticeships or jobs.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Magnolia AR area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Magnolia AR electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Magnolia residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction 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 large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few 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 expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Magnolia AR, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Magnolia AR?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Magnolia AR area.<\/p>\n
Magnolia, Arkansas<\/h3>
The city was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March 1938, with the Barnett #1 drilled by the Kerr-Lynn Company. The Magnolia Oil Field was an important discovery for the city as well as for the nation, as it was the largest producing field (in volume) during the early years of World War II, helping to sustain the American war effort.<\/p>
Magnolia is located in southwest Arkansas, north of the center of Columbia County at 33\u00b016\u203227\u2033N 93\u00b014\u20321\u2033W\ufeff \/ \ufeff33.27417\u00b0N 93.23361\u00b0W\ufeff \/ 33.27417; -93.23361 (33.274052, -93.233477).[7] The average altitude is 336\u00a0ft (102\u00a0m) above sea level according to NOAA. The surrounding region is a mix of dense forest, farm prairies, and low rolling hills.<\/p>
The average temperature is 64\u00a0\u00b0F (18\u00a0\u00b0C), and the average annual rainfall is 50.3 inches (1,280\u00a0mm).[8] The winters are mild but can dip into the teens at night and have highs in the 30s and even some 20s but average out around 50. The springs are warm and can be stormy with strong to severe storms and average highs in the mid 70s. Summers are often hot, humid and dry but with occasional isolated afternoon storms, highs in the mid to upper 90s and even 100s. In the fall the temps cool from the 90s and 100s to 80s and 70s. Early fall temps are usually in the 80s but can reach 90s and at times has reached 100. Late fall temps fall to 70s and 60s. It is not uncommon to see snow and ice during the winter. It has been known to snow a few times as late as April and as early as November in Magnolia.<\/p><\/div>\n