How to Select the Best Electrician Technical School near Marshall Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Marshall VA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, some students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole things that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Marshall VA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are provided by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Virginia institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Marshall VA can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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 imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Marshall VA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Marshall VA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical 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 an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Marshall VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing 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 signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important 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 will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Marshall VA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Marshall VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Marshall VA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Marshall home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable 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 some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Marshall VA, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Qualified Electrician Courses Marshall Virginia
Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Qualified Electrician Courses and wanting more information on the topic Become A Certified Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Marshall VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Marshall, Virginia
Marshall was originally known as "Salem". It became Marshall after a short-lived incorporation. It is named after John Marshall, the former United States Supreme Court Chief Justice who grew up at Oak Hill in nearby Delaplane.
Marshall is home to the Fauquier Heritage and Preservation Foundation, as well as the Number 18 School in Marshall, which was the last one-room school in Fauquier County. Originally a whites-only schoolhouse, it was a blacks-only schoolhouse until it closed in the 1960s as a result of desegregation. It has been restored, and school groups often visit.
Marshall is centered along State Route 55 between two exits on Interstate 66. Via I-66 it is 50 miles (80 km) east to Washington, D.C., and 20 miles (32 km) west to Front Royal, Virginia. U.S. Route 17 runs south from Marshall 12 miles (19 km) to Warrenton, the Fauquier County seat.
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