How to Become an Electrician in Sterling City Texas
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Sterling City TX. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Sterling City TX
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Sterling City TX. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Texas technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Texas junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Texas colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of 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 start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Sterling City TX can undertake a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Sterling City TX
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Sterling City TX are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Sterling City TX area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Sterling City TX program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. 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 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 indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Sterling City TX students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Sterling City TX area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Sterling City TX electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Sterling City home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 Sterling City TX, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Sterling City TX?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Sterling City TX area.
Sterling City, Texas
Sterling City was named for W.S. Sterling, a buffalo hunter and Indian fighter. Land for the new town was donated in January 1891 by R.C. Stewart, and was platted by H.B. Tarver in February. That same year it was designated the seat of Sterling County. The town soon grew to 300 residents and had its own newspaper, a hotel, a post office, and several other businesses, and a school and three churches.[5]
During World War Two, Sterling City's population decreased by 10%. When it was incorporated in August, 1955, Sterling City had a population of some 800 and had added three more churches, a hospital, a bank, and a library.
On May 25, 1955, fifteen United States Air Force personnel, flying in a B-36 bomber under the callsign Abbot 27, perished in a crash near Sterling City.[7] The airmen were members of the 40th Bomb Squadron of the 6th Bombardment Wing at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico. A monument in their honor was erected in 2007 at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Sterling City TX
Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Sterling City TX.
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