How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Portsmouth Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Portsmouth VA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Portsmouth VA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Portsmouth VA can perform a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong 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 alternative that you may have looked at is selecting 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 the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Portsmouth VA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Portsmouth VA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Portsmouth VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program 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 course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Portsmouth VA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Portsmouth VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build 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 on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Portsmouth VA electrical contractor if they can give you some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Portsmouth residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Portsmouth VA, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Education And Training Portsmouth Virginia
Picking the right electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Education And Training and wanting more information on the topic Education Needed To Become An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Portsmouth VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S. Navy facility that is actually located in Portsmouth rather than Norfolk; the original name "Gosport" was changed to "Norfolk" to reflect its location in what is now the former Norfolk County, Virginia. The shipyard upgrades, remodels, and repairs ships of the US Navy and is one of the few facilities in the world with the capability to dry dock an aircraft carrier.
Directly opposite Norfolk, the city of Portsmouth also has miles of waterfront land on the Elizabeth River as part of the harbor of Hampton Roads. There is a ferry boat that takes riders back and forth across the water between downtown Norfolk and the Portsmouth Olde Towne Historic District.
Portsmouth is located on the western side of the Elizabeth River directly across from the City of Norfolk. In 1620, the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood, a shipbuilder, who petitioned King James I of England for a land grant. The surrounding area was soon settled as a plantation community.[4]
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