Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ennis TX 75119

How to Become an Electrician in Ennis Texas

Ennis TX electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Ennis TX. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Ennis TX

Ennis TX electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Ennis TX. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Texas trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Texas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Texas institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Ennis TX electricians working on power lines Electricians in Ennis TX can carry out a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Ennis TX

attending electrician school online in Ennis TX An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much 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 might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Ennis TX are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Ennis TX electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Ennis TX area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain 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 Ennis TX program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Ennis TX grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Ennis TX area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Ennis TX electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Ennis residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Ennis TX, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ennis TX?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Ennis TX area.

Ennis, Texas

Ennis is a city in eastern Ellis County, Texas located 35 miles south of Dallas. The population was 18,513 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 16,454 at the 2000 census. It is the third largest city in Ellis County, with the county seat of Waxahachie being the largest and the city of Midlothian being the second largest. The city is also home to the National Polka Festival and the Texas Motorplex.

Ennis is known locally as a historically significant center of trade and cotton farming. The city was founded and supported by the railroad, and the success of cotton production attracted significant wealth and prosperity to the community in the early 20th century. Despite the onslaught of the Great Depression, the city continued to be economically viable well into the mid-20th century by its traditional means. Today, the community now serves as a manufacturing hub, a tourist destination, and a bedroom community serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

The area that would later become the city of Ennis was first inhabited by the Tonkawa Native Americans. The area was also the hunting grounds of several Native American tribes including the Waco, Bidai, Anadarko, and Kickapoo tribes. These tribes frequented the area until Anglo pioneers arrived in the early-to-mid 19th century. When Ellis County was established and organized in 1850, much of the area was sparsely inhabited by isolated farmsteads as the nearby city of Dallas was in its infancy at the time. However, communities such as Ovilla, Waxahachie, and Burnham would have been settled and founded prior to the establishment of the city of Ennis.[4]

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Find the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Ennis TX

Choosing the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type 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 options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose 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 Ennis TX.