Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Bowdon GA 30108

How to Become an Electrician in Bowdon Georgia

Bowdon GA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Bowdon GA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Bowdon GA

Bowdon GA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Bowdon GA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Georgia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by Georgia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Georgia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Bowdon GA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Bowdon GA can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Bowdon GA

attending electrician school online in Bowdon GA A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Bowdon GA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Bowdon GA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Bowdon GA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools 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 pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Bowdon GA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance 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.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct 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 may mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Bowdon GA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Bowdon GA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Bowdon GA electrical contractor 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 Bowdon residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 at night or on weekends near Bowdon GA, check that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Bowdon GA?

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

Bowdon, Georgia

Bowdon Municipal Court changed some of its practices in 2015 after Judge Richard A. Diment was shown in recordings demanding payment in exchange for avoiding jail.[9] Later, in a New York Times article, Judge Diment claimed that he had never actually jailed someone for failing to pay a fine. Judge Diment's daughter described him as a proponent of civil rights.[10]

Bowdon has generally mild winters, with highs averaging in the low to mid 50s and lows around 32. Usually there are one or two days each winter when lows drop below 15. Snow is infrequent, averaging about 2" a winter. Some winters however, experience no snowfall. Ice is more common than snow. Rainfall is usually plentiful in the winter. Although severe weather is not very common, it does happen in the winter. The most recent severe weather event occurred on February 26, 2008 when an EF3 tornado hit an area about four miles north of Bowdon. The fall and spring months tend to bring the nicest weather, with numerous sunny days. Highs in the spring average in the 70s and lows average in the 40s and 50s. There is often severe weather in the spring, with occasionally a tornado. Fall tends to be the nicest season, with plentiful sunshine and highs in the 60s and 70s. Towards the end of fall, lows can drop below 30. Summer is often very humid and hot, although the heat is relieved by afternoon thunderstorms which occur almost daily. The summer of 2007 was one of the hottest on record with several days of highs above 100. Highs in the summer are generally around 90 with lows in the 60s. On May 11, 2008 Bowdon was hit by a series of tornadoes known as the "Mother's Day Storm" with a few reported injuries, but no deaths.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,959 people, 815 households, and 543 families residing in the city. The population density was 576.5 people per square mile (222.5/km²). There were 893 housing units at an average density of 262.8 per square mile (101.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.87% White, 25.17% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 1.23% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.40% of the population.

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Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Bowdon GA

Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Bowdon GA.