How to Pick the Best Electrician Training School near Lorton Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Lorton VA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because 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 found some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Lorton VA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are provided by Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Virginia institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Lorton VA can perform a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An option that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Lorton VA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Lorton VA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Lorton VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also signify 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 alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lorton VA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Lorton VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Lorton VA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Lorton home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lorton VA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
College Electrical Training Lorton Virginia
Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in College Electrical Training and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Class. But 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 looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lorton VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Lorton, Virginia
Lorton is named for a village in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, in England. Joseph Plaskett of the Cumbrian village settled in southern Fairfax County, running a general store and opening the Lorton Valley Post Office on November 11, 1875.[4]
Before the identity of Lorton, the commercial center was Colchester, and the spiritual and historical center of the community around which the leading citizens of the time revolved was Pohick Church, where George Washington and George Mason were at times members of the vestry.
From the early 20th century until November 2001, Lorton was the site of a District of Columbia correctional facility called the Lorton Reformatory which, among other things, detained approximately 168 women from the women's suffrage movement from the Washington, D.C. area from June to December 1917. For the 2010 census, the area around the former Lorton Reformatory was assigned to the Laurel Hill census-designated place, reducing the area and population of the Lorton CDP.
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