How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Dixie West Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Dixie WV. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Dixie WV. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by West Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some West Virginia institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Dixie WV can perform a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you might have contemplated 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 the need for travel, in this case they are not completely 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 might be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Dixie WV are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Dixie WV area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Dixie WV school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training program 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Dixie WV grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Dixie WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Dixie WV electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Dixie home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Dixie WV, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Study To Be An Electrician Dixie West Virginia
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Study To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Trade Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out 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 certain that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Dixie WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Dixie, Nicholas County, West Virginia
Dixie is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fayette and Nicholas counties, West Virginia, United States. Dixie is located on West Virginia Route 16 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north of Gauley Bridge. Dixie has a post office with ZIP code 25059.[4] As of the 2010 census, its population was 291, with 202 residents in Nicholas County and 89 in Fayette County.[2]
Dixie was settled by people who identified with the Southern United States, hence the name. Peoples known in this area followed James O'Donnelly who in 1873, argued that Catholicism was a truer way of life.[5]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 