How to Choose the Best Electrician Training School near Beaverdam Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Beaverdam VA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Beaverdam VA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Beaverdam VA can perform a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually 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 can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Beaverdam VA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Beaverdam VA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Beaverdam VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Beaverdam VA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training 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 electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Beaverdam VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Beaverdam VA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Beaverdam residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Beaverdam VA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Schools To Become An Electrician Beaverdam Virginia
Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Schools To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade School Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Beaverdam VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Beaverdam, Virginia
It is the location of four historic locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Scotchtown, a residence of Patrick Henry, the Beaverdam Depot, Dewberry, and Trinity Church.[3][4] It was also the childhood home of Thomas Nelson Page, a notable author and American diplomat in the 20th century. Consisting primarily of farmland, today it is an outlying suburb of Richmond. The railroad still passes through, operated by the Buckingham Branch Railroad, a Virginia-based short line railroad.
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