Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Alexandria VA 22301

How to Become an Electrician in Alexandria Virginia

Alexandria VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Alexandria VA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Alexandria VA

Alexandria VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Alexandria VA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Alexandria VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Alexandria VA can perform a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing 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 most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

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

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Alexandria VA

attending electrician school online in Alexandria VA An option that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving costs from Alexandria VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Alexandria VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Alexandria VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Alexandria VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Alexandria VA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along 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 considering have referring partnerships with Alexandria VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Alexandria VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Alexandria home. Take note 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 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 see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Alexandria VA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Alexandria VA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Alexandria VA area.

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 139,966,[3] and in 2016, the population was estimated to be 155,810.[4] Located along the western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Washington, D.C.

Like the rest of Northern Virginia, as well as Central Maryland, modern Alexandria has been influenced by its proximity to the U.S. capital. It is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service, in the U.S. military, or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the federal government. One of Alexandria's largest employers is the U.S. Department of Defense. Another is the Institute for Defense Analyses. In 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office moved to Alexandria, and in 2017, so did the headquarters of the National Science Foundation.

The historic center of Alexandria is known as "Old Town". With its concentration of boutiques, restaurants, antique shops and theaters, it is a major draw for all who live in Alexandria as well for visitors. Like Old Town, many Alexandria neighborhoods are compact and walkable. It is the 7th largest and highest-income independent city in Virginia.

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Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Alexandria VA

Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Alexandria VA.