Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Collierville TN 38017

How to Become an Electrician in Collierville Tennessee

Collierville TN electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Collierville TN. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Collierville TN

Collierville TN electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Collierville TN. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered 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 mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Tennessee technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by Tennessee junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Tennessee colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Collierville TN electricians working on power lines Electricians in Collierville TN can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Collierville TN

attending electrician school online in Collierville TN An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Collierville TN are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Collierville TN electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now 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 so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Collierville TN area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned 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 a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Collierville TN program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Collierville TN students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Collierville TN area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Collierville TN electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Collierville home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Collierville TN, 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. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Collierville TN?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Collierville TN area.

Collierville, Tennessee

Collierville is a town in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and a suburb located in the Memphis metropolitan area. The town had a population of 43,965 at the 2010 census,[6] making it the state's largest town by population in that Census.

Collierville is a town of large houses and considerable retail expansion. Smaller, older houses are still found in the heart of Collierville, mainly between Byhalia Road and Collierville-Arlington on the east and west and Shelton and Highway 72 on the north and south. Some industry, notably Pepsi and Carrier, still dots the areas located south of Poplar Avenue.

Collierville is home to the Avenue at Carriage Crossing, an 800,000+ sq ft shopping center which opened in October 2005. Baptist Hospital, Collierville, serves the medical needs of the town's residents. Collierville will become part of the Interstate 69 highway plan integrating Bill Morris Parkway (SR 385) as Interstate 269, part of this USDOT project linking Canada and Mexico with the United States.

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Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Collierville TN

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. 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 right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Collierville TN.