How to Choose the Best Electrician Technical School near Springfield Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Springfield VA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs
There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Springfield VA. You can enroll in 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 other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Virginia colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Springfield VA can perform a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An option that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Springfield VA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. 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 questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Springfield VA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 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 final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Springfield VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Springfield VA students secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Springfield VA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Springfield VA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Springfield home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn 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 Springfield VA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
I Want To Become An Electrician Springfield Virginia
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in I Want To Become An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic How Do I Become An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect 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 end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Springfield VA.
More Electric Locations in Virginia
Springfield, Virginia
Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 30,484 as of the 2010 census. Homes and businesses in bordering CDPs including North Springfield, West Springfield, and Newington are usually given a "Springfield" mailing address. The population of the collective areas with Springfield addresses is estimated to exceed 100,000. The CDP is a part of Northern Virginia, the most populous region of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.49%) is water.
The area is dominated by the interchange of I-95, I-395, and the Capital Beltway (I-495), known as the Springfield Interchange. The center of the town is at the intersection of Route 644 (Old Keene Mill Road / Franconia Road) and Route 617 (Backlick Road) adjacent to the interchange. A significant commercial district exists around the interchange area, but the rest of the community is primarily residential in character.
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