How to Choose the Right Electrician Technical School near Ashton West Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Ashton WV. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of variables to consider. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are several approaches to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Ashton WV. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by West Virginia vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain West Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria
Electricians in Ashton WV can undertake a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs
An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Ashton WV are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Ashton WV area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Ashton WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified 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 list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Ashton WV students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction 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 companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Ashton WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Ashton WV electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Ashton home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Ashton WV, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Electrician Vocational Schools Ashton West Virginia
Picking the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Vocational Schools and wanting more information on the topic Education For Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak 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 training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Ashton WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Ashton, West Virginia
Ashton is an unincorporated community in Mason County, West Virginia, USA. Ashton is located on the Ohio River and West Virginia Route 2, 15 miles (24 km) south of Point Pleasant. Ashton has a post office with ZIP code 25503.[2]
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