Becoming An Electrician Bethesda MD

How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Bethesda Maryland

Bethesda MD electrician working on circuit boardThe first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Bethesda MD. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options

Bethesda MD electrician on power line poleThere are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Bethesda MD. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Maryland vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by Maryland junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Maryland colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Bethesda MD electrician wiring boxElectricians in Bethesda MD can perform a multitude of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure 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 crucial that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online

Bethesda MD student attending electrician school onlineAn option that you may have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving costs from Bethesda MD are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Questions to ask Bethesda MD electrician schoolsNow that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Bethesda MD area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Bethesda MD program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at 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 dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high 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 utilize 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 Bethesda MD grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Bethesda MD area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Bethesda MD electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Bethesda home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in 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 one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Bethesda MD, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure 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.

Becoming An Electrician Bethesda Maryland

Bethesda MD electricians working on power linesChoosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Becoming An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade School Cost. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount 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 provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Bethesda MD.

More Electric Locations in Maryland

  • Electrician Degrees Bushwood MD
  • Qualified Electrician Courses Andrews Air Force Base MD
  • Electrician Vocational Training Rockville MD
  • Electrician Course Burkittsville MD
  • Train To Become An Electrician Galena MD
  • Electrician Trade Schools Bryans Road MD
  • Electrical School Queen Anne MD
  • Electrical Certification Courses Derwood MD
  • Education Needed To Be An Electrician Little Orleans MD
  • Electrician Apprentice School Walkersville MD
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

     

    Bethesda, Maryland

    Bethesda is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located just northwest of the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda.[2] In Aramaic, beth ḥesda (ܒܝܬ ܚܣܕܐ) means "House of Mercy" and in Hebrew, beit ḥesed (.mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-size:1.15em;font-family:"Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey David CLM","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli","SBL BibLit","SBL Hebrew",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}בית חסד) means "House of Kindness". The National Institutes of Health main campus and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are in Bethesda, as are a number of corporate and government headquarters.

    As an unincorporated community, Bethesda has no official boundaries. The United States Census Bureau defines a census-designated place named Bethesda whose center is located at 38°59′N 77°7′W / 38.983°N 77.117°W / 38.983; -77.117. The United States Geological Survey has defined Bethesda as an area whose center is at 38°58′50″N 77°6′2″W / 38.98056°N 77.10056°W / 38.98056; -77.10056, slightly different from the Census Bureau's definition. Other definitions are used by the Bethesda Urban Planning District, the United States Postal Service (which defines Bethesda to comprise the ZIP Codes 20810, 20811, 20813, 20814, 20815, 20816, and 20817), and other organizations. According to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013, the community had a total population of 63,374. Most of Bethesda's residents are in Maryland Legislative District 15.

    Bethesda is situated along a major thoroughfare that was originally the route of an Indian trail. Henry Fleet (1602–1661) was an English fur trader and the first European to travel to the area, which he reached by sailing up the Potomac River. He stayed with the Piscataway tribe from 1623 to 1627 as both a guest and a prisoner, then returned to England. He spoke of potential riches in fur and gold, and won funding for another American expedition.[3]

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 451

    YC Electric
    183 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Silver Spring, MD 20910

    Armenergo
    18 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment
    Phone:
    11801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

    Havepower Electric
    47 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    9812 Falls Rd, Ste 114 / 286, Potomac, MD 20854

    SuperNova Electric
    36 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Herndon, VA 20170

    City Lights Electrician
    14 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    McLean, VA 22043

    Harris Electric
    43 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    1244 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

    Wilcox Electric
    70 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Hyattsville, MD 20781

    Hourly Husbands Handyman Services
    26 Reviews
    Handyman, Painters, Electricians
    Phone:
    906 Euclid St NW, Ste A, Washington, DC 20001

    Old Town Electrician
    9 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    587 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

    4 Service Pros
    66 Reviews
    Electricians, Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    Fairfax, VA 22030