How to Become an Electrician in Charleston Mississippi
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Charleston MS. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss 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 instructional choices that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Charleston MS
There are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Charleston MS. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Mississippi technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Mississippi junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Mississippi colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Charleston MS can undertake a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three 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 trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Charleston MS
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Charleston MS are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Charleston MS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Charleston MS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Charleston MS students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction 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 electrical companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Charleston MS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Charleston MS electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Charleston residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees 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 larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Charleston MS, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Charleston MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Charleston MS area.
Charleston, Mississippi
Charleston is a city in north central Mississippi and one of the two county seats of Tallahatchie County, which is located on both sides of the Tallahatchie River. This city is located east of the river and its population was 2,198 at the 2000 census.
The Charleston Female school, established in 1852, flourished for several years. The Tallahatchie Herald, a Democratic weekly newspaper, was established in 1892. In 1901, the Charleston Bank was established. By the early 1900s, Charleston had a brick courthouse and jail, three churches, schools, a Masonic hall, an Odd Fellows lodge, and two cotton gins. Its leading agricultural staple was cotton. The population in 1906 was 800.[2]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,198 people, 848 households, and 569 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,612.7 people per square mile (624.0/km²). There were 933 housing units at an average density of 684.6 per square mile (264.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.26% White, 59.69% African American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Charleston MS
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Charleston MS.
Other Cool Cities in Mississippi
Business Results 1 - 10 of 8
