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How to Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Gladstone Virginia

Gladstone VA electrician working on circuit board The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Gladstone VA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options

Gladstone VA electrician on power line pole There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Gladstone VA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Gladstone VA electrician wiring box Electricians in Gladstone VA can perform a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring 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 length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools

Gladstone VA student attending electrician school online An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Gladstone VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Questions to ask Gladstone VA electrician schools Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Gladstone VA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Gladstone VA 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 obtain a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Gladstone VA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Gladstone VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Gladstone VA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Gladstone home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Gladstone VA, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, 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 because of work, illness or family issues.

Electrician Training Courses Gladstone Virginia

Gladstone VA electricians working on power lines Picking the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training Courses and wanting more information on the topic I Want To Be An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Gladstone VA.