How to Become an Electrician in Troy Tennessee
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Troy TN. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Troy TN
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Troy TN. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain 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 together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Tennessee technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are offered by Tennessee junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Tennessee colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Troy TN can perform a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 3 levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Troy TN
An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Troy TN are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Troy TN region, it’s important 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 even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Troy TN school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Troy TN grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Troy TN area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment 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 trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Troy TN electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Troy home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience 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 meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Troy TN, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Troy TN?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Troy TN area.
Troy, Tennessee
Troy was founded in 1825 as the original county seat of Obion County. Frontiersman Davy Crockett was in attendance when the town was platted.[2] Troy remained the county seat until 1890, when it was moved to Union City following a contentious legal dispute.[2]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,273 people, 533 households, and 367 families residing in the town. The population density was 896.7 people per square mile (346.1/km²). There were 576 housing units at an average density of 405.7 per square mile (156.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.35% White, 1.26% African American, 0.16% from other races, and 0.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 533 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.
Select the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Troy TN
Picking the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Troy TN.
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