Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Columbia SC 29201

How to Become an Electrician in Columbia South Carolina

Columbia SC electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Columbia SC. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Columbia SC

Columbia SC electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Columbia SC. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by South Carolina vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by South Carolina community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some South Carolina institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Columbia SC electricians working on power lines Electricians in Columbia SC can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Columbia SC

attending electrician school online in Columbia SC An option that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Columbia SC are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Columbia SC electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Columbia SC region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have earned 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, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Columbia SC program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Columbia SC graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Columbia SC area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local 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 technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Columbia SC electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Columbia home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Columbia SC, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Columbia SC?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Columbia SC area.

Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is the capital and second largest city of the U.S. state of South Carolina, with a population estimate of 134,309 as of 2016.[2] The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. It is the center of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 767,598 as of the 2010 United States Census, growing to 817,488 by July 1, 2016, according to 2015 U.S. Census estimates. The name Columbia is a poetic term used for the United States, originating from the name of Christopher Columbus.

The city is located approximately 13 miles (21 km) northwest of the geographic center of South Carolina, and is the primary city of the Midlands region of the state. It lies at the confluence of the Saluda River and the Broad River, which merge at Columbia to form the Congaree River. Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina, the state's flagship university and the largest in the state, and is also the site of Fort Jackson, the largest United States Army installation for Basic Combat Training. Columbia is also located 20 miles west of the site of McEntire Joint National Guard Base, which is operated by the U.S. Air Force and is used as a training base for the 169th Fighter Wing of The South Carolina Air National Guard. Columbia is also the location of the South Carolina State House, which is the center of government for the state. In 1860, the city was the location of the South Carolina Secession Convention, which marked the departure of the first state from the Union in the events leading up to the Civil War.

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Columbia were a people called the Congaree.[3] In May 1540, a Spanish expedition led by Hernando de Soto traversed what is now Columbia while moving northward. The expedition produced the earliest written historical records of the area, which was part of the regional Cofitachequi chiefdom.[4]

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Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Columbia SC

Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity 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 must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Columbia SC.