How to Enroll in the Right Electrician Technical School near Shanks West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Shanks WV. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Shanks WV. You can enroll in 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 first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by West Virginia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by West Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some West Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Shanks WV can undertake a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Shanks WV are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Shanks WV region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Shanks WV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, 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 a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Shanks WV graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along 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 companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Shanks WV area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Shanks WV electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Shanks residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive 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 witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Shanks WV, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Degree Online Shanks West Virginia
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Degree Online and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Technician Courses. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Shanks WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Shanks, West Virginia
Shanks is located east of Romney along the Northwestern Turnpike (U.S. Route 50) on the eastern flanks of South Branch Mountain. The community is centered on the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and Allen Hill Road (County Route 50/7). Shanks Roadside Park is located directly to its west on U.S. Route 50. The North Fork Little Cacapon River runs through the community.
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