Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Silver Spring MD 20901

How to Become an Electrician in Silver Spring Maryland

Silver Spring MD electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Silver Spring MD. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many variables to consider. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Silver Spring MD

Silver Spring MD electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Silver Spring MD. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Maryland trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Maryland community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Maryland colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Silver Spring MD electricians working on power lines Electricians in Silver Spring MD can undertake a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations 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 vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Silver Spring MD

attending electrician school online in Silver Spring MD An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Commuting expenses from Silver Spring MD are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Silver Spring MD electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Silver Spring MD area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Silver Spring MD program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Silver Spring MD graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Silver Spring MD area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Silver Spring MD electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Silver Spring residence. Take note that if you decide to attend 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 desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Silver Spring MD, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Silver Spring MD?

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

Silver Spring, Maryland

Silver Spring is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located inside the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 76,716 according to 2013 estimates by the United States Census Bureau, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown, and the second largest in Montgomery County after Germantown.[2] Inner Silver Spring consists of the following neighborhoods: Downtown Silver Spring, East Silver Spring, Woodside, North Woodside, Woodside Park, North Hills Sligo Park, Long Branch, Montgomery Knolls, Franklin Knolls, Indian Spring Terrace, Indian Spring Village, Clifton Park Village, New Hampshire Estates, Oakview, and Woodmoor. Outer Silver Spring consist of the following neighborhoods: Four Corners, Wheaton, Glenmont, Forest Glen, Aspen Hill, Hillandale, White Oak, Colesville, Colesville Park, Cloverly, Calverton, Briggs Chaney, Greencastle, Northwood Park, Sunset Terrace, Fairland, Lyttonsville, and Kemp Mill.

The urbanized, oldest, and southernmost part of Silver Spring is a major business hub that lies at the north apex of Washington, D.C. As of 2004, the Central Business District (CBD) held 7,254,729 square feet (673,986 m2) of office space, 5216 dwelling units and 17.6 acres (71,000 m2) of parkland. The population density of this CBD area of Silver Spring was 15,600 per square mile all within 360 acres (1.5 km2) and approximately 2.5 square miles (6 km2) in the CBD/downtown area.[3] The community has recently undergone a significant renaissance, with the addition of major retail, residential, and office developments.

Silver Spring takes its name from a mica-flecked spring discovered there in 1840 by Francis Preston Blair, who subsequently bought much of the surrounding land. Acorn Park, tucked away in an area of south Silver Spring away from the main downtown area, is believed to be the site of the original spring.[4][5]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Silver Spring MD

Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Silver Spring MD.