Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Arlington VA 22201

How to Become an Electrician in Arlington Virginia

Arlington VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Arlington VA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are of importance, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Arlington VA

Arlington VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Arlington VA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Virginia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Virginia institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Arlington VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Arlington VA can perform a multitude of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:

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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Arlington VA

attending electrician school online in Arlington VA An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning can be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Arlington VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Arlington VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Arlington VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have earned 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 a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Arlington VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Arlington VA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Arlington VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional 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 on the job. If you are already 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 Arlington VA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Arlington residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers 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 schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Arlington VA, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers 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 Arlington VA?

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

Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia,[1] often referred to simply as Arlington or Arlington, Virginia. In 2016, the county's population was estimated at 230,050,[2] making it the sixth-largest county in Virginia, or the fourth-largest city if it were incorporated as such. It is the 5th highest-income county in the U.S. by median family income,[3] and has the highest concentration of singles in the region.[4]

The county is coterminous with the U.S. Census Bureau's census-designated place of Arlington. Though a county, it is also treated as the second-largest principal city of the Washington metropolitan area.

The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., of which it was once a part. With a land area of 26 square miles (67 km2), Arlington is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the U.S., and by reason of state law regarding population density, has no incorporated towns within its borders. Due to the county's proximity to downtown Washington, D.C., Arlington is home to many important installations for the capital region and U.S. government, including the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, and Arlington National Cemetery. Many schools and universities have campuses in Arlington, most prominently the Antonin Scalia Law School of George Mason University.

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Arlington VA

Selecting the best electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Arlington VA.