How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Granville West Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Granville WV. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Granville WV. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by West Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by West Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some West Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Granville WV can perform a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting costs from Granville WV are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Granville WV area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Granville WV school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also mean 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 list of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Granville WV grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along 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 electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Granville WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Granville WV electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Granville residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Granville WV, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain 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.
Electrical School Granville West Virginia
Picking the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical School and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Certification Classes. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Granville WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Granville, West Virginia
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 781 people, 356 households, and 195 families residing in the town. The population density was 600.8 inhabitants per square mile (232.0/km2). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 303.1 per square mile (117.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.3% White, 1.9% African American, 0.1% Asian, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 356 households of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the town was 40.8 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.
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