Category Archives: South Carolina

Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Piedmont SC 29673

How to Become an Electrician in Piedmont South Carolina

Piedmont SC electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Piedmont SC. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Piedmont SC

Piedmont SC electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple options to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Piedmont SC. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most typical programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by South Carolina technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by South Carolina junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain South Carolina colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Piedmont SC electricians working on power linesElectricians in Piedmont SC can carry out a multitude of services, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Piedmont SC

attending electrician school online in Piedmont SCAn alternative that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Piedmont SC are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Piedmont SC electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Piedmont SC region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed 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 critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Piedmont SC school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Piedmont SC graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Piedmont SC area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure 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, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Piedmont SC electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Piedmont home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees 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 Piedmont SC, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Piedmont SC?

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

Piedmont, South Carolina

Native Americans and early settlers of Piedmont called the area "Big Shoals of the Saluda" after the Saluda River. The Native Americans used the shoals as a crossing. David Garrison established a grist mill around 1850 upon the shoals changing the name of the area to Garrison Shoals. Henry Pinckney Hammett bought this property for his cotton mill that used water power of the shoals. The name of the area changed again to Piedmont, "Foot of the Mountains" and became a mill town. The American Civil War disrupted Hammett's project until 1876 when his plant began operations. Piedmont was added to Hammett's charter for Piedmont Manufacturing Company and a railroad station. Water power from the Saluda River was also used to produce electricity to run the machinery from the 1880s to the 1920s. The machinery of the Piedmont Manufacturing Company was from Saco Lowell and Whitin Machine Works that helped finance Hammett's company.[4] In 1946 the mills were sold to J.P. Stevens and Company where it then was updated with modern features. Manufacturing continued until 1977 and in 1983 most of Piedmont Manufacturing Company burned down.[5]

Piedmont is located in northern Anderson County and southwestern Greenville County at 34°42′15″N 82°27′41″W / 34.70417°N 82.46139°W / 34.70417; -82.46139 (34.704140, -82.461427).[6] It is 12 miles (19 km) south of the center of Greenville. Exit 35 on Interstate 85 is 2 miles (3 km) to the west of the center of Piedmont. South Carolina state road 86 cuts through the small town also, connecting with Interstate 85 at Exit 35. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.7 km2), of which 8.6 square miles (22.3 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 1.93%, is water.[3] The Saluda River flows southwards over a dam through the center of town.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,684 people, 1,829 households, and 1,349 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 545.6 people per square mile (210.8/km²). There were 1,992 housing units at an average density of 232.0 per square mile (89.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.08% White, 5.85% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Technical School near Piedmont SC

Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Piedmont SC.

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