How to Pick the Best Electrician Trade School near Herndon Virginia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Herndon VA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to examine. For instance, many potential students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Herndon VA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Herndon VA can carry out a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with 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 normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to 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 acquired in numerous specializations, including 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 organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An option that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Herndon VA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Herndon VA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, 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 before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Herndon VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Herndon VA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Herndon VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Herndon VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Herndon residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger 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. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Herndon VA, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Online Journeyman Electrician School Herndon Virginia
Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Journeyman Electrician School and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Training Courses Online. But as we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Herndon VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Herndon, Virginia
Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 23,292 at the 2010 census, which makes it the largest of three incorporated towns in the county.[3]
Herndon was named for Commander William Lewis Herndon, American naval explorer and author of Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon. Commander Herndon captained the ill-fated steamer SS Central America, going down with his ship while helping to save over 150 of its passengers and crew. The settlement was named Herndon in 1858. In the 1870s, many Northern soldiers and their families came to settle in the area, taking advantage of moderate climate and low land prices. Herndon also offered a group of friendly and local Native Americans who helped the town to prosper via trade and instruction.[4]
Originally part of the rural surroundings of the Washington, D.C. area, the town of Herndon developed into a hub of dairy farming and vacationing for area residents, aided by its presence along the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad (later to become the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad).[4] When the railroad was converted into a hike-and-bike trail, Herndon capitalized on history and small-town feel (in a major metropolitan region) by converting its train station into a museum and visitors center and by relocating a Norfolk Southern Railway caboose to a nearby site and repainting it in W&OD livery.[5]
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