How to Find the Best Electrician Technical School near Oakwood Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Oakwood VA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For instance, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Oakwood VA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive 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 colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Oakwood VA can undertake a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing 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 become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually 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 distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, including 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling expenses from Oakwood VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Oakwood VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested 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 selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Oakwood VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Oakwood VA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Oakwood VA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Oakwood VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Oakwood home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges 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 large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Oakwood VA, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrical School Online Oakwood Virginia
Selecting the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical School Online and wanting more information on the topic Industrial Electrician Courses. 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 considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Oakwood VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Oakwood, Virginia
Oakwood is an unincorporated area in Buchanan County, Virginia, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 460 and Secondary Route 624. The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is in Oakwood, on the campus of the former Garden High School.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 59
23 Reviews 
17 Reviews 
47 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
84 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
38 Reviews 
4 Reviews 