How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Hurricane West Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Hurricane WV. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Hurricane WV. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by West Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain West Virginia colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Hurricane WV can undertake a multitude of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools
An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Hurricane WV are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Hurricane WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have attained 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 relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Hurricane WV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential 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 use 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Hurricane WV grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
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 inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Hurricane WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Hurricane WV electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Hurricane residence. Take note 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 individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Hurricane WV, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Training Schools Hurricane West Virginia
Choosing the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training Schools and wanting more information on the topic Online Industrial Electrical Training. But as we have covered 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 tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Hurricane WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Hurricane, West Virginia
Hurricane is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 287,702. New definitions from February 28, 2013 placed the population at 363,000.[8]
Hurricane was named after Hurricane Creek, which was, in turn, named after a group of trees at the arm of the river bent in one direction. A party of surveyors commissioned by George Washington noted the site appeared to have been struck by a hurricane,[9] giving rise to the name. Locals pronounce the town (HURR-i-KINN) not (HURR-i-CANE).[10] Less than 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Hurricane is a post office named Tornado.
A town named Hurricane Bridge was located where West Virginia Route 34 now crosses the creek, near current-day Hurricane. The town can be traced back to an 1811 Virginia map. The town primarily consisted of a large Inn. On March 28, 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought a Civil War battle at Hurricane Bridge, now known as the skirmish at Hurricane Bridge.[11]
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