How to Enroll in the Best Electrician Tech School near Clarksburg West Virginia
The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Clarksburg WV. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to examine. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
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Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Clarksburg WV. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by West Virginia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by West Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some West Virginia institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Clarksburg WV can carry out a vast array of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online
A possibility that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs 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 practical choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting costs from Clarksburg WV are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Clarksburg WV region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Clarksburg WV school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Clarksburg WV students obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Clarksburg WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Clarksburg WV electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Clarksburg residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Clarksburg WV, confirm that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Electrical Technician Degree Clarksburg West Virginia
Selecting 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 Technician Degree and wanting more information on the topic Become Qualified Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Clarksburg WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, in the north-central region of the state. The population of the city was 16,578 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 94,221 in 2014.[5] Clarksburg was named National Small City of the Year in 2011 by the National League of Cities.
The first known non-indigenous visitor to the area that later became Clarksburg was John Simpson,[6] a trapper, who in 1764 located his camp on the West Fork River opposite the mouth of Elk Creek at approximately 39°16′53″N 80°21′05″W / 39.28128°N 80.35145°W / 39.28128; -80.35145 (39.28128, -80.35145)[7]
As early as 1772, settlers began claiming lands near where Clarksburg now stands, and building cabins. In 1773, Major Daniel Davisson (1748-1819) took up 400 acres (1.6 km2), upon which the principal part of the town is now located. By 1774, people settling near present Clarksburg included: Daniel Davisson, Obadiah Davisson (Daniel's father), Amaziah Davisson (Daniel's uncle), Thomas, John, and Matthew Nutter, Samuel and Andrew Cottrill (brothers), Sotha Hickman, and Samuel Beard. Undoubtedly, others located on these public lands, of which no official records were made.[6] The Virginia General Assembly authorized the town of Clarksburg in 1785. Now a city, it is named for General George Rogers Clark, a Virginian who conducted many expeditions against the British and Indians during the Indian Wars and the war of the American Revolution, including the strategically critical capture of Fort of Vincennes, now in the State of Indiana, in 1778.[8]
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