How to Choose the Best Electrician Training School near Merrifield Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Merrifield VA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have identified some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Merrifield VA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Virginia vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to finish and are provided by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Merrifield VA can carry out 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 concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An option that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving costs from Merrifield VA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Merrifield VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Merrifield VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Merrifield VA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Merrifield VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Merrifield VA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Merrifield residence. Take note 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 challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools 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 Merrifield VA, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrician Degree Requirements Merrifield Virginia
Choosing the right electrical trade school 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 Electrician Degree Requirements and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Apprentice School. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Probably The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Merrifield VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Merrifield, Virginia
Merrifield is located in eastern Fairfax County at 38°52′23″N 77°14′35″W / 38.87306°N 77.24306°W / 38.87306; -77.24306 (38.873144, −77.242994).[4] It is bounded by I-66 on the north, the Capital Beltway on the east, Arlington Boulevard (U.S. Route 50) on the south, and Nutley Street (Virginia State Highway 243) on the west. Neighboring communities are Oakton to the west, the town of Vienna to the north, Dunn Loring to the northeast, Idylwood and West Falls Church to the east, Annandale at the southeast corner of Merrifield, Woodburn and Mantua to the south, and the city of Fairfax to the southwest. Downtown Washington, D.C., is 13 miles (21 km) to the east.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 11,170 people, 4,396 households, and 2,725 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,107.2 people per square mile (1,585.6/km²). There were 4,534 housing units at an average density of 1,667.1/sq mi (643.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 54.67% White, 5.94% African American, 0.25% Native American, 29.94% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 5.00% from other races, and 4.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.91% of the population.
There were 4,396 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 459
64 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
40 Reviews 
17 Reviews 
32 Reviews 
9 Reviews 
14 Reviews 
212 Reviews 
19 Reviews 
73 Reviews 