Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Smackover AR region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>Numerous electrician trade schools have earned 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 an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Smackover AR program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. 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 competent to train 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 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 also that it has the network of contacts to assist Smackover AR students acquire apprenticeships or employment.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Most electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Smackover AR area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Smackover AR electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Smackover home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher 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 difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Smackover AR, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Smackover AR?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Smackover AR area.<\/p>\n
Smackover, Arkansas<\/h3>
Smackover is a small city in northern Union County, Arkansas, United States. According to Citydata.com, the 2014 population was at 1,790. It had a large oil boom in the 1920s, with production continuing for some time.\n<\/p>
In 1686, the French settlers called this area \"SUMAC COUVERT\", which translates to \"covered in sumac bushes\". This was transliterated, that is, phonetically Anglicized by the English-speaking settlers of the 19th century and later to the name \"SMACKOVER.\" \n<\/p>
Oil was discovered in this area in 1922; it attracted national attention, speculators, and an economic boom. Smackover was incorporated in 1923. In the 1920s there was a large-scale oil industry in Smackover.[4] The industry declined here and across southern Arkansas by the 1960s, at a cost of many jobs and major losses to the area economy.\n<\/p><\/div>\n