How to Become an Electrician in Glade Spring Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Glade Spring VA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Glade Spring VA
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Glade Spring VA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Virginia vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Virginia colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Glade Spring VA can carry out a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Glade Spring VA
An option that you might have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Glade Spring VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages 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.
What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Glade Spring VA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Glade Spring VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs 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 could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Glade Spring VA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Glade Spring VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Glade Spring VA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within driving distance of your Glade Spring home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Glade Spring VA, check that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glade Spring VA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Glade Spring VA area.
Glade Spring, Virginia
Glade Spring is a town in Washington County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,456 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
The original name of Glade Spring derives from the Indian word Passawatami which means "this is the place".[4] According to early records, near the town is a field where Native American tribes held a type of Olympics in the fall, with athletic competitions, dancing and socializing. The Porterfield family, who arrived about 1760, were some of the earliest permanent settlers.
During its first years, the town was called Glade Spring Depot to differentiate it from the community centered on Glade Spring Presbyterian Church, two miles to the southwest on the old stage road, now U.S. Route 11. The post office was moved from Old Glade to Glade Spring Depot in 1856 due to the arrival of the railroad.
Enroll in the Right Electrical Tech School near Glade Spring VA
Choosing the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect 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, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Glade Spring VA.
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