Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Raleigh NC 27601

How to Become an Electrician in Raleigh North Carolina

Raleigh NC electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Raleigh NC. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Raleigh NC

Raleigh NC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Raleigh NC. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by North Carolina vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by North Carolina community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain North Carolina colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Raleigh NC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Raleigh NC can perform a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Raleigh NC

attending electrician school online in Raleigh NC An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Raleigh NC are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Raleigh NC electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Raleigh NC region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Raleigh NC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers 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 broader directory of alumni, 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 Raleigh NC grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Raleigh NC area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Raleigh NC electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Raleigh residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive 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 observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Raleigh NC, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find 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 Raleigh NC?

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

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh (/ˈrɑːli/; RAH-lee)[6] is the capital of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. Raleigh is the second-largest city in the state of North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city.[7] The city covers a land area of 142.8 square miles (370 km2). The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 464,758 as of July 1, 2017.[4] It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.[8][9] The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the lost Roanoke Colony in present-day Dare County.

Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University (NCSU) and is part of the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area, together with Durham (home of Duke University) and Chapel Hill (home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). The "Triangle" nickname originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park, located in Durham and Wake counties, among the three cities and their universities. The Research Triangle region encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau's Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which had an estimated population of 2,037,430 in 2013.[10] The Raleigh metropolitan statistical area had an estimated population of 1,214,516 in 2013.

Most of Raleigh is located within Wake County, with a very small portion extending into Durham County.[11] The towns of Cary, Morrisville, Garner, Clayton, Wake Forest, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, and Rolesville are some of Raleigh's primary nearby suburbs and satellite towns.

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Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Raleigh NC

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Raleigh NC.