Category Archives: West Virginia

Electrical Technician Diploma Winifrede WV

How to Choose the Right Electrician Trade School near Winifrede West Virginia

Winifrede WV electrician working on circuit boardThe initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Winifrede 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? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are available.

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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs

Winifrede WV electrician on power line poleThere are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Winifrede WV. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain 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 the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by West Virginia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete 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 readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some West Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Winifrede WV electrician wiring boxElectricians in Winifrede WV can carry out a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of 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). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three levels of competency:

  • 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 pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs

Winifrede WV student attending electrician school onlineA possibility that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Winifrede WV are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Winifrede WV electrician schoolsNow that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Winifrede WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, 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 additional factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Winifrede WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Winifrede WV grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Winifrede WV area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Winifrede 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 driving distance of your Winifrede home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Winifrede WV, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Electrical Technician Diploma Winifrede West Virginia

Winifrede WV electricians working on power linesPicking the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Technician Diploma and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Online. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Winifrede WV.

More Electric Locations in West Virginia

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    Winifrede, West Virginia

    Winifrede is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. Winifrede is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southwest of Chesapeake. Winifrede has a post office with ZIP code 25214.[2] It is home of the Big Eagle Railroad (formerly known as Winifrede Mining and Manufacturing Company, Winifrede Collieries, and Winifrede Railroad), one of the oldest short-line railroad operations in the United States, having been in existence since 1850.[3] The Winifrede Railroad was incorporated in November 1881 and opened in 1882; the original operation was closed in 1988 and reopened as the Big Eagle Railroad in 2000-01.

     

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