Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Asheboro NC 27203

How to Become an Electrician in Asheboro North Carolina

Asheboro NC electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Asheboro NC. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For example, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only things that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Asheboro NC

Asheboro NC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Asheboro NC. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by North Carolina vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by North Carolina junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some North Carolina colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Asheboro NC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Asheboro NC can perform a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in various 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 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 tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Asheboro NC

attending electrician school online in Asheboro NC An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Asheboro NC are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Asheboro NC electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Asheboro NC region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about 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 even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Asheboro NC program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 finish the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Asheboro NC grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Asheboro NC area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional 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 using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Asheboro NC electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Asheboro residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Asheboro NC, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Asheboro NC?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Asheboro NC area.

Asheboro, North Carolina

Acme-McCrary Hosiery Mills, Asheboro Hosiery Mills and Cranford Furniture Company Complex, Central School, Wilson Kindley Farm and Kindley Mine, Lewis-Thornburg Farm, Mount Shepherd Pottery Site, Randolph County Courthouse, Sunset Theater, and Thayer Farm Site (31RD10) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6][7][8][9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.4 square miles (40 km2), of which, 15.3 square miles (40 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.58%) is water. Asheboro is known as the center point of NC. Although Asheboro is located in the gently rolling Piedmont plateau region of central North Carolina, far to the east of the Appalachian Mountains, the town and surrounding area are surprisingly hilly. The town lies within the Uwharrie Mountains, an ancient series of ridges and monadnocks which have been worn down by erosion to high hills. As such, Asheboro gives the impression of being in a more mountainous area than it actually is.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 21,672 people, 8,756 households, and 5,516 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,412.5 people per square mile (545.5/km²). There were 9,515 housing units at an average density of 620.1 per square mile (239.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.45% White, 12.08% African American, 0.51% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 7.72% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.9% of the population.

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Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Asheboro NC

Selecting the right electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Asheboro NC.