Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Hattiesburg MS 39401

How to Become an Electrician in Hattiesburg Mississippi

Hattiesburg MS electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Hattiesburg MS. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found some that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about 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 instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Hattiesburg MS

Hattiesburg MS electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Hattiesburg MS. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Mississippi technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Mississippi colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Hattiesburg MS electricians working on power lines Electricians in Hattiesburg MS can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Hattiesburg MS

attending electrician school online in Hattiesburg MS A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Hattiesburg MS are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Hattiesburg MS electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Hattiesburg MS region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Hattiesburg MS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Hattiesburg MS graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Hattiesburg MS area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Hattiesburg MS electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Hattiesburg residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Hattiesburg MS, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, 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 Hattiesburg MS?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Hattiesburg MS area.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat)[2] and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 45,989 at the 2010 census,[3] with an estimated population of 46,805 in 2015.[4] It is the principal city of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses Forrest, Lamar and Perry counties.

Development of the interior of Mississippi by European Americans took place primarily after the American Civil War. Before that time, only properties along the major rivers were developed as plantations. Founded in 1882 by civil engineer William H. Hardy, Hattiesburg was named in honor of Hardy's wife Hattie. The town was incorporated two years later with a population of 400. Hattiesburg's population first expanded as a center of the lumber and railroad industries, from which was derived the nickname "The Hub City". It now attracts newcomers because of the diversity of its economy, strong neighborhoods, and the central location in South Mississippi.

Hattiesburg is home to The University of Southern Mississippi (founded as Mississippi Normal College, for the training of teachers) and William Carey University (formerly William Carey College). South of Hattiesburg is Camp Shelby, the largest US National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River.

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Select the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Hattiesburg MS

Selecting the right electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hattiesburg MS.