Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Riverdale MD 20737

How to Become an Electrician in Riverdale Maryland

Riverdale MD electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Riverdale MD. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For example, many students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Riverdale MD

Riverdale MD electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Riverdale MD. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Maryland trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Maryland junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Maryland institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Riverdale MD electricians working on power lines Electricians in Riverdale MD can perform a vast array of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Riverdale MD

attending electrician school online in Riverdale MD An alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Riverdale MD are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Riverdale MD electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Riverdale MD region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Riverdale MD school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent 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 alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Riverdale MD grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Riverdale MD area electricians or electrical professionals. 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 local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Riverdale MD electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Riverdale home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Riverdale MD, verify that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Riverdale MD?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Riverdale MD area.

Riverdale, Maryland

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrical Technical School near Riverdale MD

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Riverdale MD.