How to Find the Right Electrician Training School near Crawford West Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Crawford WV. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options
There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Crawford WV. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by West Virginia technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by West Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some West Virginia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Crawford WV can undertake a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of proficiency:
- 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 trade school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Crawford WV are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Crawford WV area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Crawford WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also signify 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 broader directory of alumni, which can 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 an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Crawford WV graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Crawford WV area electricians or electrical companies. 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 trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Crawford WV electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Crawford residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Crawford WV, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
How To Become Electrical Technician Crawford West Virginia
Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in How To Become Electrical Technician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Certification Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Crawford WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Crawford, West Virginia
Crawford is an unincorporated community in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. Crawford is 11.5 miles (18.5 km) south-southeast of Weston. Crawford had a post office, which closed on January 21, 1989; it still has its own ZIP code, 26343.[2][3]
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