Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Richmond VA 23218

How to Become an Electrician in Richmond Virginia

Richmond VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Richmond VA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to examine. For instance, some potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Richmond VA

Richmond VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Richmond VA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short explanations of the 3 most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Virginia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Richmond VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Richmond VA can undertake a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Richmond VA

attending electrician school online in Richmond VA An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning might be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Richmond VA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Richmond VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Richmond VA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Richmond VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Richmond VA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Richmond VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Richmond VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Richmond home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in 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 get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe 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. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Richmond VA, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Richmond VA?

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

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond (/ˈrɪtʃmənd/ RICH-mənd) is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and the Greater Richmond Region. It was incorporated in 1742, and has been an independent city since 1871.

As of the 2010 census, the population was 204,214;[6] in 2016, the population was estimated to be 223,170,[6] the fourth-most populous city in Virginia. The Richmond Metropolitan Area has a population of 1,260,029, the third-most populous metro in the state.

Richmond is located at the fall line of the James River, 44 miles (71 km) west of Williamsburg, 66 miles (106 km) east of Charlottesville, and 98 miles (158 km) south of Washington, D.C. Surrounded by Henrico and Chesterfield counties, the city is located at the intersections of Interstate 95 and Interstate 64, and encircled by Interstate 295 and Virginia State Route 288. Major suburbs include Midlothian to the southwest, Chesterfield to the south, Varina to the southeast, Sandston to the east, Glen Allen to the north and west, Short Pump to the west and Mechanicsville to the northeast.

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Find the Ideal Electrical Technical School near Richmond VA

Picking the ideal electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program 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 Richmond VA.