How to Pick the Best Electrician Trade School near Surry Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Surry VA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many points to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start 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 cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Surry VA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Surry VA can undertake a multitude of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations 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 tech school that you pick not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Surry VA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Surry VA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Surry VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Surry VA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Surry VA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Surry VA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Surry residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Surry VA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Schools Online Surry Virginia
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Schools Online and wanting more information on the topic Train To Be An Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Surry VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Surry, Virginia
Surry (formerly Cross Roads, McIntosh's Cross Roads, McIntoshs Cross Roads, Scuffletown, Smithville, Surry Court House, and The Crossroads)[3] is an incorporated town in Surry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 244 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Surry County.[4] Its name is derived from the historic county of Surrey in England.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 262 people, 109 households, and 80 families residing in the town. The population density was 323.7 people per square mile (124.9/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 147.0 per square mile (56.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.05% White, 23.28% African American, 1.15% Native American, 1.53% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 109 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.83.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 51
7 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
12 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
23 Reviews 
23 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
3 Reviews 