How to Become an Electrician in Deridder Louisiana
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Deridder LA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Deridder LA
There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Deridder LA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Louisiana trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Louisiana community colleges, typically 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 earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Louisiana colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Deridder LA can undertake a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 levels of competency:
- 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 tech school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic 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 Online Programs in Deridder LA
An option that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Deridder LA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Deridder LA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Deridder LA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Deridder LA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught together 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 electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Deridder LA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Deridder LA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Deridder residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training 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 instructors. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Deridder LA, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Deridder LA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Deridder LA area.
DeRidder, Louisiana
DeRidder is a small city in and the parish seat of Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States.[4] A small portion of the city extends into Vernon Parish. As of the 2010 census DeRidder had a population of 10,578.[5] It is the smaller principal city of the Fort Polk South-DeRidder CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Fort Polk South (Vernon Parish) and DeRidder (Beauregard Parish) micropolitan areas,[6][7] which had a combined population of 87,988 at the 2010 census.[8]
DeRidder was named for Ella de Ridder, the sister-in-law of a Dutch railroad financier, Jan de Goeijen.[9] Her family originally came from the small town of Geldermalsen in the Netherlands, where she was one of 13 children. She ran away from home at an early age and was presumed dead by her family, who only later discovered that she had traveled to the United States. The town was named for her by her brother-in-law, who brought the first railroad to that area of Louisiana. Prior to that, the little town was known as Schovall. The first train line to serve DeRidder came in 1902[contradictory]. It was the Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad, later called the Kansas City Southern.
The July 26, 1924, the DeRidder Enterprise stated: "The first house in DeRidder was made of logs and covered with board shingles, split by hand from the logs of the forest. It was constructed in 1893 and was the old homestead house of Calvin Shirley, who was the original owner of the land upon which the first business house and residence of DeRidder were built. Mr. Shirley homesteaded the 160 acres (0.65 km2) which was later platted and became the original townsite of DeRidder."
Select the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Deridder LA
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Deridder LA.
Other Cool Cities in Louisiana
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 