How to Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Fairmont West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Fairmont WV. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are several ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Fairmont WV. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some West Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Fairmont WV can undertake a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Fairmont WV are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Fairmont WV region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed 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 critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Fairmont WV program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program 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 dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Fairmont WV grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Fairmont WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Fairmont WV electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Fairmont residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased 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 larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Fairmont WV, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Advanced Electrical Courses Fairmont West Virginia
Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Advanced Electrical Courses and wanting more information on the topic Become Electrician. But as we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Fairmont WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Fairmont, West Virginia
Prior to the founding of Fairmont, the land that would become Marion County was part of Monongalia and Harrison County.[6] In the 1700s, the earliest development of this area consisted of subsistence farming settlements.[7] In 1789, Boaz Fleming, a Revolutionary War veteran, migrated to this area and purchased a 254-acre farm from Jonathan Bozarth. Oral history indicates that in 1808, Fleming made his annual trek to Clarksburg to pay his brother's Harrison County taxes.[8] While in Clarksburg, Fleming attended a social gathering that included his cousin, Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison. Fleming complained to Mrs. Madison about having to travel over a hundred miles each year from his home to pay his Monongalia County taxes and his brother's Harrison County taxes. Mrs. Madison supposedly suggested that he create his own county to save him all that travel. In 1814, Fleming circulated a petition to do precisely that, naming the proposed county Madison County, in honor of Dolley and James Madison.
Milford (now Rivesville[9]) was the only town within the borders of Fleming's proposed county, so Fleming decided to make Milford the seat of Madison County.[10] However, Milford's citizens preferred to remain part of Monongalia County. As a result, Fleming's petition failed to gain sufficient support to be presented to the Virginia General Assembly. Fleming then focused on creating a new town near his farm, which was located on the west side of the Monongahela River. In 1817, Fleming's sons—William and David—began to clear land on part of their father's farm to make way for the new town; this part of the farm would later become downtown Fairmont. In 1819, a road was built from Clarksburg to Morgantown. Fleming's new town was about halfway between the two cities, making it a good resting point. The town was incorporated as Middletown on January 19, 1820. It is unknown if the town was called Middletown because of its location midway between Clarksburg and Morgantown or because Fleming's first wife, Elizabeth Hutchinson, was originally from Middletown, Delaware.
The current borders of Marion County were established in 1842, and Middletown was named the county's seat. At that time, William Haymond, Jr. suggested that the town's name be changed to Fairmont because the town had a beautiful overlook of the Monongahela River, giving it a "fair mount." The Borough of Fairmont was incorporated in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly.[11]
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