How to Become an Electrician in Summit Mississippi
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Summit MS. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Summit MS
There are several options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Summit MS. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Mississippi vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Mississippi community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Mississippi colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Summit MS can carry out a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of competency:
- 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Summit MS
A possibility that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Summit MS are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Summit MS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Summit MS school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Summit MS grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Summit MS area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Summit MS electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Summit residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn 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 handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Summit MS, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Summit MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Summit MS area.
Summit, Mississippi
The town originated as a railroad town and was named Summit because it was thought to be the highest point on the Illinois Central Railroad between New Orleans and Jackson, Tennessee, though nearby Brookhaven actually has that distinction.
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,428 people, 589 households, and 394 families residing in the town. The population density was 848.9 people per square mile (328.2/km²). There were 658 housing units at an average density of 391.2 per square mile (151.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 32.63% White, 66.18% African American, 0.07% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 589 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.03.
Find the Right Electrical Tech School near Summit MS
Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Summit MS.
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