Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Colonial Heights VA 23834

How to Become an Electrician in Colonial Heights Virginia

Colonial Heights VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Colonial Heights VA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Colonial Heights VA

Colonial Heights VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Colonial Heights VA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Virginia institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Colonial Heights VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Colonial Heights VA can carry out a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes 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 Online Training Classes in Colonial Heights VA

attending electrician school online in Colonial Heights VA An option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting costs from Colonial Heights VA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Colonial Heights VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Colonial Heights VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final 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. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Colonial Heights VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course 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 or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which can result in 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 a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Colonial Heights VA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Colonial Heights VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools 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 tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Colonial Heights VA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Colonial Heights residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Colonial Heights VA, confirm 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 permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Colonial Heights VA?

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

Colonial Heights, Virginia

Colonial Heights is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,411.[3] The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the City of Colonial Heights (along with the City of Petersburg) with Dinwiddie County for statistical purposes.

Like much of eastern Virginia, the site of Colonial Heights was located within the Algonquian-speaking confederation known as Tenakomakah, ruled by Chief Powhatan, when the English colonists arrived at Jamestown on May 14, 1607. Captain John Smith's early map of Virginia testifies that the present area of Colonial Heights included the principal town of the Appamattuck subtribe, led by their weroance, Coquonasum, and his sister, Oppussoquionuske. In the aftermath of the Indian attacks of 1622 and 1644, the Appamattuck became tributary to England and relocated to nearby Ettrick, and its opposite bank, near Fort Henry (within modern-day Petersburg, Virginia).

The area including present-day Colonial Heights was made a part of "Henrico Cittie", one of 4 huge "incorporations" formed in the Virginia Colony in 1619 by the London Company. English colonists first settled in the Colonial Heights area in 1620. A small group sailed up the Appomattox River looking for clear land, and finally settled in an area where Swift Creek runs into the Appomattox River, which they named Conjurer's Neck. This confluence was formerly the residence of a Native American healer (known as a "conjurer") who was thought to have cast spells over the waters.

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Select the Right Electrical Tech School near Colonial Heights VA

Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Colonial Heights VA.