Schools To Become An Electrician Park VA

How to Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Park Virginia

Park VA electrician working on circuit boardThe initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Park VA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only things that need to be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options

Park VA electrician on power line poleThere are several ways to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Park VA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Virginia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are provided by Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Park VA electrician wiring boxElectricians in Park VA can undertake a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three levels of competency:

  • 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs

Park VA student attending electrician school onlineAn alternative that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Park VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Park VA electrician schoolsOnce you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Park VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired 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, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Park VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train 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 may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Park VA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Park VA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Park VA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Park home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers 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 schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Park VA, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Schools To Become An Electrician Park Virginia

Park VA electricians working on power linesSelecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Schools To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade School Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk 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 select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Park VA.

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