How to Become an Electrician in Prentiss Mississippi
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Prentiss MS. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For example, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Prentiss MS
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Prentiss MS. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Mississippi vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Mississippi institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Prentiss MS can undertake a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Prentiss MS
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Prentiss MS are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Prentiss MS area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two 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 chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Prentiss MS school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean 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 a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Prentiss MS students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught together 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 companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Prentiss MS area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Prentiss MS electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Prentiss residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Prentiss MS, check that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Prentiss MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Prentiss MS area.
Prentiss, Mississippi
A depot was established in Blountville when the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad (later Illinois Central Railroad) was completed in 1903. That same year the town was officially established and named "Prentiss", possibly after Seargent Smith Prentiss, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives and U.S. Representative from Mississippi, or after Prentiss Webb Berry, a prominent landowner in the area. When Jefferson Davis County was created in 1906, a special election determined that Prentiss would serve as the county seat.[4][6][7]
In 1907, Jonas Edward Johnson and his wife Bertha LaBranche Johnson established the Prentiss Institute. Situated on 40 acres (16 ha) of land, with remnants of slave quarters on the property, it was considered one of the finest schools for African Americans in Mississippi. The school at first taught only the elementary grades, and began with 40 students whose tuition was often paid with chickens, eggs and produce. A Rosenwald classroom was built on the campus in 1926, and by 1953 the "Prentiss Normal and Industrial Institute" included a high school and junior college, had 44 faculty and more than 700 students, and included 24 buildings and 400 acres (160 ha) of farmland, pasture and forest. In 1955, Heifer International donated 15 pure-bred cows to the school with the intention that the offspring be donated to needy farm families. It is noteworthy that the school gave some of the animals to poor white families. The school closed in 1989 and was designated an official Mississippi landmark in 2002.[8][9]
Prentiss is located in central Jefferson Davis County at 31°35′49″N 89°52′11″W / 31.596990°N 89.869776°W / 31.596990; -89.869776.[12]U.S. Route 84 passes north and west of the town center on a bypass; the four-lane highway leads east 20 miles (32 km) to Collins and west 16 miles (26 km) to Monticello. Mississippi Highway 13 passes through the town slightly east of the center; it leads north 27 miles (43 km) to Mendenhall and south 26 miles (42 km) to Columbia. Mississippi Highway 42 leads southeast from Prentiss 11 miles (18 km) to Bassfield.
Pick the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Prentiss MS
Choosing the best electrician trade school 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 things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Prentiss MS.
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