How to Select the Best Electrician Trade School near Big Creek West Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Big Creek WV. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.
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Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Big Creek WV. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by West Virginia vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain West Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in Big Creek WV can undertake a vast array of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies 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 prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Schools Online
A possibility that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Big Creek WV are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Big Creek WV area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be considered also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Big Creek WV school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Big Creek WV graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Big Creek WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Big Creek WV electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Big Creek home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may 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 difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Big Creek WV, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Electrician Training Schools Big Creek West Virginia
Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Training Schools and wanting more information on the topic Online Industrial Electrical Training. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers different 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. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Big Creek WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Fenwick, West Virginia
Fenwick is a census-designated place (CDP) in eastern Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States, adjacent to and immediately west of Richwood. As of the 2010 census, its population was 116.[2] The town is situated at the bottomland surrounding the mouth of the Big Laurel Creek at its confluence with the Cherry River and has an elevation of 649 m (2129 ft).[3] Fenwick is also the location of the convergence of three state highways: WV 55, WV 39, and WV 20 and acts as the western terminus of the Highland Scenic Highway.
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