How to Become an Electrician in West Point Mississippi
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near West Point MS. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near West Point MS
There are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near West Point MS. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Mississippi trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Mississippi junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Mississippi colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to 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 Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in West Point MS can perform a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess 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 him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in West Point MS
An option that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from West Point MS are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the West Point MS area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we mentioned 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 even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the West Point MS program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help West Point MS students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with West Point MS area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local West Point MS electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your West Point residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near West Point MS, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out 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 West Point MS?
Following is a little bit of background information about the West Point MS area.
West Point, Mississippi
West Point is a city in Clay County, Mississippi, in the Golden Triangle region of the state. The population was 11,307 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Clay County[3] and the principal city of the West Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Columbus-West Point Combined Statistical Area.
West Point, MS is located in the North East section of Mississippi just across the Alabama state line. West Point has a rich heritage with generations of family lineage calling it home. Historically the area has a blend of African American, White and Native American lineage. The city has many social activities sponsored by church and civic organizations.
As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 11,307 people 4,444 households, and 3,043 families residing in the city. The population density was 535.13 people per square mile (225.3/km²). There were 4,856 housing units at an average density of 235.3 per square mile (90.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.6% White, 56.9% African American, 0.01% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 0.9% of the population. There were 3,043 households out of which 22.2% had own children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 28.4% had a female householder with no husband present, male household no wife present 4.9% and 31.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.04. In the city, the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 20 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. The population was 53.7% female and 46.3% male. The median income for a household in the city was $30,440, and the median income for a family was $39,295. The per capita income for the city was $17,675. About 23.4% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those people age 65 or over.
Choose the Ideal Electrical Technical School near West Point MS
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in West Point MS.
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