How to Choose the Right Electrician Tech School near Parkersburg West Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Parkersburg WV. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training 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 educational choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Parkersburg WV. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by West Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some West Virginia institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Parkersburg WV can undertake a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you may have considered is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Parkersburg WV are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Parkersburg WV region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about 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 critical when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Parkersburg WV program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a superior education, it can help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states require 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Parkersburg WV graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Parkersburg WV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Parkersburg WV electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Parkersburg home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging 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 students and instructors. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Parkersburg WV, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Certification Schools Parkersburg West Virginia
Selecting the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Certification Schools and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Degree Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor some 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 proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Parkersburg WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia, United States.[5] Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's third-largest city and the largest city in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna metropolitan area. The population was 31,492 at the 2010 census. Its peak population was 44,797 in 1960. The city is about 14 miles south of Marietta, Ohio.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Parkersburg in 1857, but lacked a crossing over the Ohio River until after the American Civil War. When the B&O completed the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) 1868–1870 to Belpre, it was the longest railroad bridge in the world.
The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, was relocated from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in the late 20th century and headquartered in Parkersburg. In October 2012, it was merged with the Financial Management Service to form the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
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