How to Become an Electrician in Purvis Mississippi
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Purvis MS. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Purvis MS
There are several options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Purvis MS. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Mississippi technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Mississippi institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Purvis MS can carry out a multitude 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 municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Purvis MS
An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Purvis MS are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online also. All 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.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Purvis MS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Purvis MS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Purvis MS grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Purvis MS area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Purvis MS electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Purvis home. Take note 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 important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Purvis MS, check that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Purvis MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Purvis MS area.
Purvis, Mississippi
Purvis is a city in Lamar County, Mississippi. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,164 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lamar County.[3] The Town of Purvis was incorporated on February 25, 1888 [4] and was founded by and named after Thomas Melville Purves, originally of Marion County, Alabama. Purves, born March 8, 1820, was a second generation Scottish-American; his grandfather emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina in 1765.[5]
Purvis acquired a land grant in 1870 for a parcel of real estate which was located, at that time, in Marion County, Mississippi.[6] In 1871, Purves moved from his home in Greene County and homesteaded the 160 acres (0.65 km2), along with his wife, Dorothy Abney, born May 14, 1826 in Hinds County, and their five surviving children, to the rural property. Dorothy, also known as Dollie or Dolly, was a doctor who tended the sick of the area and delivered babies. Purves built a two-room log cabin for his family with an open fireplace in one room used for cooking and heating. John, Thomas Purves’ third surviving child, was the town’s first Mayor.[7]
In 1884, the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad gained right-of-way on Purves' property and a depot was erected, along with a marker, reading “Purvis”.[6] There were various recognized spellings of Scottish Clan Purves (surname) with both names previously listed being only a few of many. Purves eventually changed the spelling of his surname to match the town’s depot marker which you can see evidenced on his tombstone located in Fillingame Cemetery in Purvis. Purves built and ran the first boarding house for the men who were working on laying rails for the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad. This building was called a “section house” because that is what a house built for railroad crew was termed at that time.[7] Mrs. Anna Bufkin was a member of one of the first families to live in the section house as her husband was one that helped grade and build that part of the railroad in Purvis. There were around fifty men in the crew working in that area and the water supply was inadequate for that many additional people. They found a second source of water from a spring across the railroad track that was originally used by Thomas Purves (Grandpa Purvis) years before the town sprang into existence.[8]
Find the Right Electrician Vocational School near Purvis MS
Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour 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, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Purvis MS.
Other Cool Cities in Mississippi
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 