Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Gastonia NC 28051

How to Become an Electrician in Gastonia North Carolina

Gastonia NC electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Gastonia NC. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must 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 influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Gastonia NC

Gastonia NC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Gastonia NC. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by North Carolina technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by North Carolina junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some North Carolina colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Gastonia NC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Gastonia NC can undertake a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge 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 vary by state and can be earned in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 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 important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Gastonia NC

attending electrician school online in Gastonia NC An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Gastonia NC are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Gastonia NC electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Gastonia NC area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two 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 even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Gastonia NC program 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 make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Gastonia NC graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Gastonia NC area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment 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, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Gastonia NC electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Gastonia residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized 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 see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Gastonia NC, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Gastonia NC?

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

Gastonia, North Carolina

Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the second largest satellite city of the Charlotte area, behind Concord. The population was 71,741 at the 2010 Census.[2] In 2016, the population had increased to 75,536.[1] Gastonia is the 13th largest city in North Carolina. It is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, officially designated the Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Gastonia has experienced steady growth, with a population increase between 2000 and 2010 of nearly 8.2%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The City Hospital-Gaston Memorial Hospital, Craig Farmstead, Downtown Gastonia Historic District, First National Bank Building, Gaston County Courthouse, Gastonia High School, David Jenkins House, Loray Mill Historic District, Robinson-Gardner Building, Third National Bank Building, and William J. Wilson House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5][6]

The Loray Mill strike of 1929 in Gastonia was one of the most notable strikes in the labor history of the United States. The role of organizers for Communist Party-afilliated National Textile Workers Union alienated religious leaders in Gastonia, who denounced the organizers' ideology, undermining support for the strike.[7] The strike collapsed after the death of Gastonia's police chief, Orville Alderholt, led to a murder trial of several of the organizers.[8] The strike largely failed in attaining its goals of better working conditions and wages, and the American labor movement was never able to gain a foothold among textile workers in Gastonia. The strike, however, became for a while an international cause célèbre, figuring in several novels published in the 1930s.

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Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Gastonia NC

Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Gastonia NC.