How to Become an Electrician in Levelland Texas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Levelland TX. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss 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 accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Levelland TX
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Levelland TX. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Texas technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Texas community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Texas institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Levelland TX can carry out a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online in Levelland TX
An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Levelland TX are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Levelland TX area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Levelland TX school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Levelland TX grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools 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 partnerships with Levelland TX area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Levelland TX electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Levelland residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training 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 observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Levelland TX, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Levelland TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Levelland TX area.
Levelland, Texas
Levelland is a city in Hockley County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,542,[2] up from 12,866 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hockley County.[3] It is located on the Llano Estacado, 30 miles (48 km) west of Lubbock. Major industries include cotton farming and petroleum production. It is the home of South Plains College.
Levelland is at the center of Hockley County. Texas State Highway 114 runs through the north side of the city, leading east 30 miles (48 km) to Lubbock and west 43 miles (69 km) to the New Mexico border. U.S. Route 385 passes through the center of the city, east of downtown, leading north 24 miles (39 km) to Littlefield and south 29 miles (47 km) to Brownfield.
As of the census[6] of 2000, 12,866 people, 4,574 households, and 3,361 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,296.5 people per square mile (500.8/km²). The 5,186 housing units averaged 522.6 per square mile (201.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.34% White, 5.36% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 20.92% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 39.21% of the population.
Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Levelland TX
Choosing the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Levelland TX.
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