Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Boyce VA 22620

How to Become an Electrician in Boyce Virginia

Boyce VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Boyce VA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many points to consider. For instance, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Boyce VA

Boyce VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Boyce VA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Boyce VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Boyce VA can carry out a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Boyce VA

attending electrician school online in Boyce VA A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Boyce VA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Boyce VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Boyce VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Boyce VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Boyce VA students obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Boyce VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical 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 tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Boyce VA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Boyce home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and find out 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 reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Boyce VA, check that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Boyce VA?

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

Boyce, Virginia

Boyce is located in western Clarke County at 39°5′35″N 78°3′33″W / 39.09306°N 78.05917°W / 39.09306; -78.05917 (39.093118, -78.059190),[4] along U.S. Route 340. It is 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Berryville, the county seat and 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Front Royal.

The town is situated at the crossing of the Norfolk & Western Railway and the Winchester and Berry's Ferry Turnpike about 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Millwood, of which it is the shipping point; 3 miles (5 km) each from Old Chapel and White Post; and 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Winchester, Virginia. It is built upon a ridge, which drains on the east into Page Brook and to the west into Roseville Run. It is apparently well underlaid with water; the town well reaches to a recorded depth of 165 feet (50 m).[5]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 426 people, 159 households, and 114 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,179.9 people per square mile (456.9/km²). There were 168 housing units at an average density of 465.3 per square mile (180.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.38% White, 11.74% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.23% Asian, and 0.47% from two or more races.

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Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Boyce VA

Picking the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each training program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Boyce VA.