Train To Be An Electrician Oldhams VA - Find Electrician Training Near You

How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Technical School near Oldhams Virginia

Oldhams VA electrician working on circuit board The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Oldhams VA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options

Oldhams VA electrician on power line pole There are three general options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Oldhams VA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two 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 readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Oldhams VA electrician wiring box Electricians in Oldhams VA can perform a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online

Oldhams VA student attending electrician school online An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Oldhams VA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Questions to ask Oldhams VA electrician schools When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Oldhams VA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Oldhams VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct 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 may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Oldhams VA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Oldhams VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying 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 campus 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, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Oldhams VA electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Oldhams residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction 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 instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Oldhams VA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Train To Be An Electrician Oldhams Virginia

Oldhams VA electricians working on power lines Choosing the ideal electrical 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 Train To Be An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Schools That Offer Electrician Training. But as we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Oldhams VA.