How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Nellis West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Nellis WV. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Nellis WV. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by West Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by West Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain West Virginia colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Nellis WV can carry out a wide range of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring 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 duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Nellis WV are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Nellis WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Nellis WV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 help Nellis WV graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Nellis WV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Nellis WV electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Nellis residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Nellis WV, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Courses Night School Nellis West Virginia
Picking the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Courses Night School and wanting more information on the topic Trade School Electrician. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Nellis WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Nellis, West Virginia
Nellis is an unincorporated community coal town in Boone County, West Virginia, United States on Brush Creek. The Nellis Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[2] Nellis was named by mine owners Matthew Slush and T.E.B. Siler after Frank E. Nellis, editor of the "Mount Clemens Independent" in Michigan.
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