How to Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Richmond Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Richmond VA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are three general options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Richmond VA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Richmond VA can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) and also 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 educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Richmond VA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Richmond VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned 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 although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Richmond VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, 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 training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate 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 more extensive directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 Richmond VA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Richmond VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Richmond VA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Richmond residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees 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 are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Richmond VA, verify that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Education Requirements For Electrician Richmond Virginia
Picking the right electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education Requirements For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Classes. But as we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Richmond VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond (/ˈrɪtʃmənd/) is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and the Greater Richmond Region. Richmond was incorporated in 1742 and has been an independent city since 1871.
As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 204,214;[4] in 2016, the population was estimated to be 223,170,[4] making Richmond the fourth-most populous city in Virginia. The Richmond Metropolitan Area has a population of 1,260,029, the third-most populous metro in the state.
Richmond is located at the fall line of the James River, 44 miles (71 km) west of Williamsburg, 66 miles (106 km) east of Charlottesville, 100 miles (160 km) east of Lynchburg and 90 miles (140 km) south of Washington, D.C. Surrounded by Henrico and Chesterfield counties, the city is located at the intersections of Interstate 95 and Interstate 64, and encircled by Interstate 295 and Virginia State Route 288. Major suburbs include Midlothian to the southwest, Chesterfield to the south, Varina to the southeast, Sandston to the east, Glen Allen to the north and west, Short Pump to the west and Mechanicsville to the northeast.
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