How to Become an Electrician in Sandersville Georgia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Sandersville GA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only things that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Sandersville GA
There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Sandersville GA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Georgia vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Georgia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Georgia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Sandersville GA can undertake a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Sandersville GA
An option that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Sandersville GA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Sandersville GA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria 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 degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Sandersville GA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 broader list of alumni, which may result in 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 an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Sandersville GA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational 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 electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Sandersville GA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Sandersville GA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Sandersville home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Sandersville GA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Sandersville GA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Sandersville GA area.
Sandersville, Georgia
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.45 square kilometres (4.03 sq mi), of which 9.1 square miles (24 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.87%) is water. The area is along the "Fall Line" that separates the Piedmont Plateau and the Atlantic Coastal Plain and is characterized by rolling hills, red clay, pine and hardwood forest, swamplands, and sand beds. The area tapers off from North to South and becomes more flat. Heading north it becomes more hilly with higher elevations.
As of the census[2] of 2011, there were 6,097 people, 2,315 households, and 1,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile (259.5/km²). There were 2,566 housing units at an average density of 283.2 per square mile (109.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.03% African American, 39.76% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 2,362 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 25.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.13.
Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Sandersville GA
Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Sandersville GA.
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