How to Select the Right Electrician Trade School near Avondale West Virginia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Avondale WV. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Avondale WV. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some West Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Avondale WV can undertake a vast array of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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 important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
An option that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Avondale WV are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Avondale WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed 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 while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Avondale WV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Avondale WV graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Avondale WV area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Avondale WV electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Avondale residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Avondale WV, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
School For Electrician Avondale West Virginia
Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in School For Electrician and wanting more information on the topic School To Be An Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Avondale WV.
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