Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Newport News VA 23601

How to Become an Electrician in Newport News Virginia

Newport News VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Newport News VA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Newport News VA

Newport News VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Newport News VA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Virginia institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Newport News VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Newport News VA can perform a multitude of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three levels of competency:

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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Newport News VA

attending electrician school online in Newport News VA A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning can be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling costs from Newport News VA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Newport News VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Newport News VA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. 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 selection, there are other factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Newport News VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Newport News VA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Newport News VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Newport News VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Newport News home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Newport News VA, check that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Newport News VA?

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

Newport News, Virginia

Newport News is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 180,719.[3] In 2013, the population was estimated to be 183,412,[4] making it the fifth-most populous city in Virginia.

Newport News is included in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the northern shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News Point on the harbor of Hampton Roads. The area now known as Newport News was once a part of Warwick County. Warwick County was one of the eight original shires of Virginia, formed by the House of Burgesses in the British Colony of Virginia by order of King Charles I, in 1634. The county was largely composed of farms and undeveloped land until almost 250 years later.[citation needed]

In 1881, 15 years of explosive development began under the leadership of Collis P. Huntington, whose new Peninsula Extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway from Richmond opened up transportation along the Peninsula and provided a new pathway for the railroad to bring West Virginia bituminous coal to port for coastal shipping and worldwide export. With the new railroad came a terminal and coal piers where the colliers were loaded. Within a few years, Huntington and his associates also built a large shipyard. In 1896, the new incorporated town of Newport News, which had briefly replaced Denbigh as the county seat of Warwick County, had a population of 9,000. In 1958, by mutual consent by referendum, Newport News was consolidated with the former Warwick County (itself a separate city from 1952 to 1958), rejoining the two localities to approximately their pre-1896 geographic size. The more widely known name of Newport News was selected as they formed what was then Virginia's third largest independent city in population.[citation needed]

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Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Newport News VA

Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Newport News VA.