How to Become an Electrician in Big Stone Gap Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Big Stone Gap VA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many points to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address 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 training choices that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Big Stone Gap VA
There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Big Stone Gap VA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Virginia colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Big Stone Gap VA can undertake a wide range of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three 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 important that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might be required to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Big Stone Gap VA
An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Big Stone Gap VA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Big Stone Gap VA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Big Stone Gap VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might 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 also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Big Stone Gap VA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Big Stone Gap VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Big Stone Gap VA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Big Stone Gap home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Big Stone Gap VA, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask 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 Big Stone Gap VA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Big Stone Gap VA area.
Big Stone Gap, Virginia
The community was formerly known as "Mineral City" and "Three Forks." The "Big Stone Gap" refers to the valley which has been created on the Appalachia Straight, located between Big Stone Gap and Appalachia. The town had hoped that its coal and iron ore deposits would make it "the Pittsburgh of the South."[3]
The Christ Episcopal Church, John Fox, Jr. House, Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, Terrace Park Girl Scout Cabin, June Tolliver House, and C. Bascom Slemp Federal Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]
Big Stone Gap is home to Wallens Ridge State Prison, a state prison that has been a part of the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Corrections since 1999. Originally opened as a supermax prison, it has recently been downgraded to a "high level" security facility. Construction and maintenance of the facility generated millions of dollars for the local economy, suppressed from a sagging history of coal mining.[6]
Select the Right Electrical Vocational School near Big Stone Gap VA
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date 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 different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Big Stone Gap VA.
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