Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Horn Lake MS 38637

How to Become an Electrician in Horn Lake Mississippi

Horn Lake MS electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Horn Lake MS. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Horn Lake MS

Horn Lake MS electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Horn Lake MS. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Mississippi technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Mississippi community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Mississippi institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Horn Lake MS electricians working on power lines Electricians in Horn Lake MS can undertake a wide range of tasks, including 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 the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Horn Lake MS

attending electrician school online in Horn Lake MS An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Horn Lake MS are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Horn Lake MS electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Horn Lake MS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Horn Lake MS program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Horn Lake MS grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Horn Lake MS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. 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. If not, ask a local Horn Lake MS electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Horn Lake home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several 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 assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Horn Lake MS, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Horn Lake MS?

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

Horn Lake, Mississippi

Horn Lake is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States which is located south of Memphis, Tennessee. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Horn Lake was 26,066,[3] up from 14,099 in 2000.

Horn Lake is bordered to the north, east, and southeast by the city of Southaven. U.S. Route 51 forms a large portion of Horn Lake's eastern border; it leads north 15 miles (24 km) to downtown Memphis, and south 9 miles (14 km) to Hernando, the DeSoto County seat. Interstate 55 passes just east of Horn Lake, with access from Exits 287,289 and 901.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Horn Lake has an area of 16.3 square miles (42.3 km2), of which 16.0 square miles (41.5 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2), or 1.98%, is water.[3]

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Horn Lake MS

Choosing the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program offers different options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Horn Lake MS.