How to Become an Electrician in Durant Mississippi
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Durant MS. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Durant MS
There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Durant MS. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Mississippi technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are offered by Mississippi junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Mississippi colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Durant MS can carry out a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Durant MS
An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Durant MS are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Durant MS region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Durant MS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of 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 complete the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Durant MS graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Durant MS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment 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 instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Durant MS electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Durant residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Durant MS, check that the programs you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Durant MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Durant MS area.
Durant, Mississippi
Durant is a city in Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. It was founded in 1858 as a station on the Mississippi Central Railroad, later part of the Illinois Central. Durant was named for Louis Durant, a Choctaw chief who had lived on a bluff just across the nearby Big Black River before Indian Removal.
Before the Civil War, this was known as the "dark corner of the county."[2] Cotton plantations predominated with numerous black slaves. The area is still largely rural and agricultural. The population of the city was 2,673 at the 2010 census,[3] down from 2,932 at the 2000 census.
Sister Paula Merrill, a nurse practitioner with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, and Sister Margaret Held, a nurse practitioner with the School Sisters of St Francis in Milwaukee, both aged 68, were found dead on August 25, 2016 at their home on Castalian Springs Road in Durant. They had been stabbed to death. A felon, Rodney Earl Sanders, from nearby Kosciusko, was charged with the murders.[4]
Pick the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Durant MS
Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Durant MS.
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