How to Pick the Best Electrician Vocational School near Kanawha Head West Virginia
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Kanawha Head WV. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs
There are several options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Kanawha Head WV. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by West Virginia vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some West Virginia colleges, but are less popular 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 performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Kanawha Head WV can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) 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 strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Programs Online
An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Kanawha Head WV are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Kanawha Head WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Kanawha Head WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, 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 finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 also that it has the network of contacts to assist Kanawha Head WV students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical 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 electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Kanawha Head WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Kanawha Head WV electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Kanawha Head home. Remember 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 training as possible, which can be difficult 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 instructors and students. Speak to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with 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 programs you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Kanawha Head WV, check that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.
Electrician Trade School Cost Kanawha Head West Virginia
Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrician Trade School Cost and wanting more information on the topic Learn To Be An Electrician. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Kanawha Head WV.
More Electric Locations in West Virginia
Kanawha Head, West Virginia
Kanawha Head is an unincorporated community in Upshur County, West Virginia, United States. Kanawha Head is located on West Virginia Route 20 16.5 miles (26.6 km) south-southwest of Buckhannon. Kanawha Head had a post office with ZIP code 26228.[2]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 