Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Greenville VA 24440

How to Become an Electrician in Greenville Virginia

Greenville VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Greenville VA. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Greenville VA

Greenville VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Greenville VA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to finish 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 enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain Virginia colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Greenville VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Greenville VA can carry out a multitude of services, including 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 differs by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Greenville VA

attending electrician school online in Greenville VA An option that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Greenville VA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Greenville VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Greenville VA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Greenville VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Greenville VA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along 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 companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring partnerships with Greenville VA area electricians or electrical professionals. 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 school facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Greenville VA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Greenville residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized 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. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 Greenville VA, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Greenville VA?

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

Greenville, Virginia

Greenville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. The population was 832 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.

As early as 1794, Greenville was platted and divided into 14 lots of 1-acre (4,000 m2) and sold by Thomas and Jane Steele. Greenville soon became a very busy stagecoach stop. This was because there were 3 major roads all intersecting at or near Greenville. One road connected Greenville with Staunton, another ran from Waynesboro to Middlebrook, and the south road led to Midway (now Steeles Tavern), Fairfield, and Lexington. The town slowly grew, and by 1810, the population had grown to 162, comparing to Staunton's 1225, and Waynesboro's 250. An 1835 account of Greenville said that it had an extensive manufacturing flour mill and a woolen manufactory, two physicians in the area, contained 50 dwelling houses, 3 general stores, 2 taverns, 1 academy, 2 tanyards, 2 saddlers, 2 tailors, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 cabinet maker, 1 wheelwright, 1 saddle tree maker, 3 house carpenters, 1 hatter, and 4 boot and shoe makers. The population was about 250 in 1928.

Kate Smith (1907-1986), an immensely popular American radio singer of the Great Depression and World War II years, was born in Greenville. A statue of her stands outside the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia because her rendition of "God Bless America" has long been considered a good luck charm for important games of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team.

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Select the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Greenville VA

Selecting the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Greenville VA.