How to Become an Electrician in Decatur Mississippi
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Decatur MS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Decatur MS
There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Decatur MS. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Mississippi vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Mississippi junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Mississippi colleges, but are less popular 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 carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Decatur MS can carry out a multitude 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 required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Decatur MS
An option that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Decatur MS are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Decatur MS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive 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 Decatur MS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Decatur MS grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Decatur MS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Decatur MS electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Decatur residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Decatur MS, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Decatur MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Decatur MS area.
Decatur, Mississippi
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,426 people, 407 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,379.9 people per square mile (534.5/km²). There were 463 housing units at an average density of 448.0 per square mile (173.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 66.41% White, 32.54% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 407 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the town, the population was spread out with 16.5% under the age of 18, 41.8% from 18 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Decatur MS
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Decatur MS.
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