How to Become an Electrician in Lumberton Mississippi
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Lumberton MS. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Lumberton MS
There are several approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lumberton MS. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Mississippi technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Mississippi junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Mississippi colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Lumberton MS can undertake a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Lumberton MS
An option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient 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 alternatives. Driving costs from Lumberton MS are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lumberton MS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Lumberton MS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require 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 looking at 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 might signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential 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 employ 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 also that it has the network of contacts to help Lumberton MS students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Lumberton MS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional 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 on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lumberton MS electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lumberton home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Lumberton MS, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lumberton MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Lumberton MS area.
Lumberton, Mississippi
Lumberton is located at 31°0′14″N 89°27′13″W / 31.00389°N 89.45361°W / 31.00389; -89.45361 (31.003888, -89.453544).[3] Most of the city is in Lamar County, with a small portion extending east into adjacent Pearl River County.[4] In the 2000 census, 2,200 of the city's 2,228 residents (98.7%) lived in Lamar County and 28 (1.3%) in Pearl River County.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which 7.3 square miles (18.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.27%) is water.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 2,228 people, 829 households, and 602 families residing in the city. The population density was 307.1 people per square mile (118.5/km²). There were 920 housing units at an average density of 126.8 per square mile (48.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.56% White, 53.64% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.
Find the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Lumberton MS
Selecting the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Lumberton MS.
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