How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Austinville Virginia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Austinville VA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some potential 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 lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are several ways to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Austinville VA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Virginia trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Virginia institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Austinville VA can carry out a vast array of services, 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 be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Austinville VA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Austinville VA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Austinville VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Austinville VA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Austinville VA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Austinville VA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Austinville residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some 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 evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Austinville VA, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Train To Be An Electrician Austinville Virginia
Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Train To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Schools That Offer Electrician Training. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Austinville VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Austinville, Virginia
Austinville is an unincorporated community on the New River in southern Wythe County, Virginia, United States. New River Trail State Park runs through Austinville, and Shot Tower Historical State Park is located nearby. The town is the birthplace of Stephen F. Austin, for whose family it is named.
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