Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Jackson MS 39201

How to Become an Electrician in Jackson Mississippi

Jackson MS electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Jackson MS. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many points to evaluate. For example, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover 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 educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Jackson MS

Jackson MS electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Jackson MS. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Mississippi vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Mississippi institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Jackson MS electricians working on power lines Electricians in Jackson MS can perform 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 mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 3 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Jackson MS

attending electrician school online in Jackson MS An option that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial 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 practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Jackson MS are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Jackson MS electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Jackson MS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Jackson 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. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Jackson MS graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Jackson MS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Jackson MS electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Jackson home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Jackson MS, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask 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 Jackson MS?

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

Ms. Jackson

"Ms. Jackson" is a song by American alternative hip hop duo OutKast. It was released on October 3, 2000, as the second single from their fourth album, Stankonia. It topped the US charts, and won a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. It also reached number one in Germany and number two in the United Kingdom, held from the top spot by Atomic Kitten's "Whole Again". In October 2011, NME placed it at number 81 on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years"[1] and in June of the same year Rolling Stone ranked it at number 55 in their "100 Best Songs of the 2000s".[2]

The single helped sell the album following the commercial underperformance of the lead single "B.O.B.", which, despite nearly universal acclaim from critics, failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 and only reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[3]

In Vibe, a few years after the fact, Andre recalled creating the song; "'Ms. Jackson' was an acoustic guitar song that I was doing at home. Then I just converted it over into something people could understand a little bit more."[4] The song was inspired, in part, by Andre's relationship with Erykah Badu and her mother.[5]

The location could not be found.

Pick the Right Electrical Trade School near Jackson MS

Choosing the right electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Jackson MS.