How to Pick the Best Electrician Technical School near Durbin West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Durbin WV. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
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Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Durbin WV. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by West Virginia technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by West Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some West Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Durbin WV can undertake a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online
An alternative that you might have considered is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming 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 some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Durbin WV are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Durbin WV region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about 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 critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Durbin WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors 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 more extensive directory of graduates, which can mean 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Durbin WV grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Durbin WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build 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 in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Durbin WV electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Durbin residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, 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. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Durbin WV, check that the schools you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Train As An Electrician Durbin West Virginia
Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Train As An Electrician and wanting more information on the topic Electrician Vocational Schools. But as we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Durbin WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Durbin, West Virginia
Durbin is situated in the northern part of Pocahontas County at the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Greenbrier River. It is thus the starting point of the Greenbrier River proper. [1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2), all of it land.[7]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 293 people, 124 households, and 78 families residing in the town. The population density was 514.0 inhabitants per square mile (198.5/km2). There were 174 housing units at an average density of 305.3 per square mile (117.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% White, 0.3% Native American, 2.0% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.
There were 124 households of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90.
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