Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lafayette LA 70501

How to Become an Electrician in Lafayette Louisiana

Lafayette LA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Lafayette LA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Lafayette LA

Lafayette LA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Lafayette LA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Louisiana trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Louisiana junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Louisiana institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Lafayette LA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Lafayette LA can carry out a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three levels of proficiency:

  • 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 trade school that you select not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Lafayette LA

attending electrician school online in Lafayette LAA possibility that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Lafayette LA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Lafayette LA electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lafayette LA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Lafayette LA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may 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 a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Lafayette LA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Lafayette LA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lafayette LA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lafayette residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Lafayette LA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lafayette LA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lafayette LA area.

Lafayette, Louisiana

Lafayette (/ˌlæfiˈjɛt/; French: [lafajɛt]) is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana,[4] located along the Vermilion River in the southwestern part of the state. The city of Lafayette is the fourth-largest in the state, with a population of 127,657 according to 2015 U.S. Census estimates.[5] It is the principal city of the Lafayette, Louisiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, with a 2015 estimated population of 490,488. The larger trade area or Combined Statistical Area of Lafayette-Opelousas-Morgan City CSA was 627,146 in 2015.[5] Its nickname is The Hub City.

The Attakapas Native Americans inhabited this area at the time of European encounter. French colonists founded the first European settlement, Petit Manchac, a trading post along the Vermilion River.[6] In the late eighteenth century, numerous Acadian refugees settled in this area, after being expelled from Canada after Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War. They intermarried with other settlers, forming what is known as Cajun culture, which continued as strongly French language and Catholic religion.

Jean Mouton, of Acadian descent, donated land to the Catholic church for construction of a small Catholic chapel at this site. In 1824 this area was selected for the Lafayette Parish seat and known as Vermilionville, for its location on the river. In 1836 the Louisiana Legislature granted it incorporation.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrical Tech School near Lafayette LA

Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably 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 evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lafayette LA.

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