Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Atlanta GA 30301

How to Become an Electrician in Atlanta Georgia

Atlanta GA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Atlanta GA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Atlanta GA

Atlanta GA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Atlanta GA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Georgia technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Georgia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Georgia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Atlanta GA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Atlanta GA can carry out a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Atlanta GA

attending electrician school online in Atlanta GA An option that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Atlanta GA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Atlanta GA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Atlanta GA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Atlanta GA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Atlanta GA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction 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. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Atlanta GA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Atlanta GA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Atlanta home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Atlanta GA, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Atlanta GA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Atlanta GA area.

Atlanta

Atlanta (/ætˈlæntə/) is the capital city and most populous municipality of the state of Georgia in the United States. With an estimated 2017 population of 486,290,[12] it is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, home to 5.8 million people and the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the United States.[6] Atlanta is the seat of Fulton County and a small portion of the city extends eastward into DeKalb County.

Atlanta was founded as a transportation hub at the intersection of two railroad lines in 1837. After being mostly burned to the ground during the American Civil War, the city rose from its ashes to become a national center of commerce and the unofficial capital of the "New South". During the 1960s, Atlanta became a major organizing center of the civil rights movement, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and many other locals playing major roles in the movement's leadership. In the decades following, the city earned a reputation as "too busy to hate" for the relatively progressive views of its citizens and leaders compared to other cities in the "Deep South".[13] During the modern era, Atlanta has attained international prominence as a major air transportation hub, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being by far the world's busiest airport since 1998.[14][15][16][17]

Atlanta is rated a "beta(+)" world city that exerts a moderate impact on global commerce, finance, research, technology, education, media, art, and entertainment.[18] It ranks 18th among world cities and 7th in the nation with a gross domestic product of $320 billion.[19][20] Atlanta's economy is considered diverse, with dominant sectors that include logistics, professional and business services, media operations, and information technology.[21] Atlanta has topographic features that include rolling hills and dense tree coverage, earning it the nickname of "the city in a forest."[22]Revitalization of Atlanta's neighborhoods, initially spurred by the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, has intensified in the 21st century, altering the city's demographics, politics, and culture.[23][24]

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Choose the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Atlanta GA

Choosing the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Atlanta GA.