How to Find the Right Electrician Technical School near Gauley Bridge West Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Gauley Bridge WV. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address 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 offered.
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 technical or vocational school near Gauley Bridge WV. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by West Virginia technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by West Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some West Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Gauley Bridge WV can carry out a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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 tech school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Gauley Bridge WV are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Gauley Bridge WV area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria 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 must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Gauley Bridge WV school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify 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 course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Gauley Bridge WV graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Gauley Bridge WV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Gauley Bridge WV electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Gauley Bridge home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Gauley Bridge WV, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Top Electrician Schools Online Gauley Bridge West Virginia
Choosing the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Top Electrician Schools Online and wanting more information on the topic How Long To Become An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Gauley Bridge WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Gauley Bridge, West Virginia
Gauley Bridge is a town in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 614 at the 2010 census. The Kanawha River is formed at Gauley Bridge by the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers. Two miles to the southeast of Gauley Bridge, in Glen Ferris, West Virginia, is Kanawha Falls, a popular stopping point on Midland Trail Scenic Highway.
The community was named after a bridge over the Gauley River near the original town site.[6] Gauley Bridge was close to the site of the Hawk's Nest incident, in which hundreds of lives were lost in the 1920s and 1930s.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 614 people, 279 households, and 159 families residing in the town. The population density was 388.6 inhabitants per square mile (150.0/km2). There were 361 housing units at an average density of 228.5 per square mile (88.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.9% White, 0.3% Native American, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 3
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 