Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Memphis TN 37501

How to Become an Electrician in Memphis Tennessee

Memphis TN electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Memphis TN. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. While 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, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Memphis TN

Memphis TN electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Memphis TN. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Tennessee trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Tennessee junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Tennessee colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Memphis TN electricians working on power lines Electricians in Memphis TN can perform a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 levels of proficiency:

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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Memphis TN

attending electrician school online in Memphis TN An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally 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 accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Memphis TN are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Memphis TN electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Memphis TN area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about 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 even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Memphis TN program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course 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 of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Memphis TN students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Memphis TN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Memphis TN electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Memphis home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized 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 witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers 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 schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Memphis TN, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Memphis TN?

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

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city located along the Mississippi River in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee. With an estimated 2017 population of 652,236,[5] it is the cultural and economic center of West Tennessee and the greater Mid-South region that includes portions of neighboring Arkansas and Mississippi. Memphis is the seat of Shelby County, the most populous county in Tennessee. Approximately 315 square miles in area, Memphis is one of the most expansive cities in the United States and features a wide variety of landscapes and distinct neighborhoods.

Memphis was founded in 1819 as a planned city by a group of wealthy Americans including John Overton and future president Andrew Jackson.[6] The plantation economy of the Antebellum South established Memphis as a major domestic trading post for African-American slave labor and agricultural commodities, especially cotton.[7] Memphis seceded with Tennessee in 1861 during the American Civil War but was recaptured by Union forces in 1862 and occupied for the duration of the war. Slaves escaped to Union lines here and formed camps, where they started schools before the end of the war.

Home to Tennessee's largest African-American population, Memphis played a prominent role in the American civil rights movement and was the site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1968 assassination. The city now hosts the National Civil Rights Museum - a Smithsonian affiliate institution. Since the civil rights era, Memphis has forged forward to become one of the nation's leading commercial centers in transportation and logistics.[8] The city's largest employer is the multinational courier corporation FedEx, which maintains its global air hub at Memphis International Airport, making it the second-busiest cargo airport in the world.

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Select the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Memphis TN

Picking the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Memphis TN.