How to Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Pembroke Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Pembroke VA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Pembroke VA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to finish and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Pembroke VA can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:
- 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 trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving costs from Pembroke VA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Pembroke VA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two 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 a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Pembroke VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Pembroke VA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Pembroke VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Pembroke VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Pembroke residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
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 go to classes at night or on weekends near Pembroke VA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Apprenticeship School Pembroke Virginia
Picking 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 Electrical Apprenticeship School and wanting more information on the topic Vocational Training Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect 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 result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Pembroke VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Pembroke, Virginia
Pembroke ( /ˈpɪmbrʊk/ PIM-bruuk) is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,128 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,134 people, 491 households, and 317 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,027.6 people per square mile (398.0/km²). There were 520 housing units at an average density of 471.2 per square mile (182.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.59% White, 6.79% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 491 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.
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