Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lansing NC 28643

How to Become an Electrician in Lansing North Carolina

Lansing NC electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lansing NC. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Lansing NC

Lansing NC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lansing NC. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn 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 the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by North Carolina trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by North Carolina community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain 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 performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Lansing NC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lansing NC can undertake a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Lansing NC

attending electrician school online in Lansing NC An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program 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 case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Lansing NC are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Lansing NC electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lansing NC region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school 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 must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Lansing NC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 complete the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Lansing NC graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Lansing NC 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 establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lansing NC electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lansing home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors 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 reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lansing NC, verify that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Lansing NC?

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

Lansing, North Carolina

In the early 20th century, Lansing was a very busy place, primarily because of the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company, whose daily mixed train, nicknamed the "Virginia Creeper", stopped here. Todd, West Jefferson, Lansing, White Oak, and other towns in North Carolina were also regular stopping places for the train. There were some productive iron mines around Lansing that used the railroad to move ore.

In the 1930s and 40's Lansing was home to one of two cheese factories in Ashe County. Lansing's cheese plant offered local farmers a place to bring their goods instead of traveling to the county's other cheese plant in West Jefferson.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 151 people, 69 households, and 38 families residing in the town. The population density was 396.9 people per square mile (153.4/km²). There were 83 housing units at an average density of 218.2 per square mile (84.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.

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Find the Right Electrician Vocational School near Lansing NC

Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lansing NC.