How to Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Mason West Virginia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Mason WV. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to examine. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Mason WV. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by West Virginia vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain West Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Mason WV can carry out a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Mason WV are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line also. 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 due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Mason WV region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Mason WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Mason WV graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Mason WV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. 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 Mason WV electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Mason home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can 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 monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments 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 degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Mason WV, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Online Industrial Electrical Training Mason West Virginia
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Industrial Electrical Training and wanting more information on the topic Becoming An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Mason WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Mason, West Virginia
Mason was initially known as Waggener's Bottom. It was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1856, and named for Mason County, which was named for George Mason,[7] a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention.
Mrs. Joanie S. Strode became the first female mayor in West Virginia when she was appointed in her husband's place in 1932. She served as the mayor of Mason until the end of her husband's term in 1933.[citation needed]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 968 people, 428 households, and 272 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,640.7 inhabitants per square mile (633.5/km2). There were 495 housing units at an average density of 839.0 per square mile (323.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and 1.8% from two or more races.
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