How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Martinsburg Ohio
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Martinsburg OH. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified some that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Martinsburg OH. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Ohio trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Ohio junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Ohio colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Martinsburg OH can undertake a vast array of services, 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 mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Martinsburg OH are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Martinsburg OH region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Martinsburg OH school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct 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 graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Martinsburg OH students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Martinsburg OH area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Martinsburg OH electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Martinsburg home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one 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 teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, 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. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Martinsburg OH, check that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure 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, illness or family responsibilities.
Education Needed To Be An Electrician Martinsburg Ohio
Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Education Needed To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certificate. But as we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Martinsburg OH.
More Electric Locations in Ohio
Martinsburg, Ohio
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 237 people, 97 households, and 62 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,316.7 inhabitants per square mile (508.4/km2). There were 110 housing units at an average density of 611.1 per square mile (235.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 93.7% White, 1.7% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races.
There were 97 households of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.10.
The median age in the village was 37.6 years. 27.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 14
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 