How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Oak Hill Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Oak Hill VA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs
There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Oak Hill VA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered combined 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 short descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Virginia colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Oak Hill VA can undertake a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure 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 municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Oak Hill VA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Oak Hill VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Oak Hill VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many 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 course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Oak Hill VA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Oak Hill VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Oak Hill VA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Oak Hill home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Oak Hill VA, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Electrical Training School Oak Hill Virginia
Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Training School and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Education And Training Requirements. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Oak Hill VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
Oak Hill Academy is a co-educational, private, Baptist-affiliated Christian secondary school in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, United States. Oak Hill's enrollment of approximately 150 students is 98% boarders, serving grades 8–12. It is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.[2]
The Oak Hill Academy Warriors basketball program is considered by some as one of the top prep basketball teams in the nation, having produced future NBA Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. In 2017, USA Today ranked Oak Hill as the third best basketball program of the decade[5] Under head coach Steve Smith, the Oak Hill Warriors was crowned "National High School Champions" nine times from 1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012 and most recently in 2016.[6]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 405
43 Reviews 
73 Reviews 
38 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
14 Reviews 
69 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
13 Reviews 8 Reviews 
5 Reviews 