Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dobson NC 27017

How to Become an Electrician in Dobson North Carolina

Dobson NC electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Dobson NC. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Dobson NC

Dobson NC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Dobson NC. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by North Carolina technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by North Carolina community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some North Carolina institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Dobson NC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Dobson NC can carry out a multitude of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Dobson NC

attending electrician school online in Dobson NC An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Dobson NC are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Dobson NC electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Dobson NC area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Dobson NC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could 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 directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ 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 Dobson NC grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Dobson NC area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form 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 presently 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 Dobson NC electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Dobson home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Dobson NC, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask 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 Dobson NC?

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

Dobson, North Carolina

Dobson is a town in Dobson Township, Surry County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,586. It is the county seat of Surry County.[4] Dobson is the home of the Shelton Vineyards, the largest winery in North Carolina.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,457 people, 555 households, and 339 families residing in the town. The population density was 813.8 people per square mile (314.3/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 331.8 per square mile (128.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.84% White, 3.91% African American, 0.41% Native American, 19.42% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.81% of the population.

There were 555 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.03.

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Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Dobson NC

Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed 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 necessity that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dobson NC.