How to Pick the Right Electrician Trade School near Martinsburg West Virginia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Martinsburg WV. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Martinsburg WV. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by West Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain West Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Martinsburg WV can perform a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling costs from Martinsburg WV are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Martinsburg WV region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 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 chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Martinsburg WV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can 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 a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Martinsburg WV students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Martinsburg WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Martinsburg WV electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Martinsburg home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Martinsburg WV, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
How To Become Electrical Technician Martinsburg West Virginia
Picking the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become Electrical Technician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Martinsburg WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in and the county seat of Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States,[5] in the tip of the state's Eastern Panhandle region in the lower Shenandoah Valley. Its population was 17,687 in the 2016 census estimate, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the ninth-largest municipality in the state. Martinsburg is part of the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Martinsburg was established by an act[6] of the Virginia General Assembly that was adopted in December 1778[7] during the American Revolutionary War. Founder Major General Adam Stephen named the gateway town to the Shenandoah Valley along Tuscarora Creek in honor of Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin, a nephew of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.[8]
Aspen Hall is a Georgian mansion, the oldest house in the city. Part was built in 1745 by Edward Beeson, Sr. Aspen Hall and its wealthy residents had key roles in the agricultural, religious, transportation, and political history of the region. Significant events related to the French and Indian War; the Revolution, and the Civil War took place on the property. Three original buildings are still standing, including the rare blockhouse of Mendenhall's Fort.
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