Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Sandston VA 23150

How to Become an Electrician in Sandston Virginia

Sandston VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Sandston VA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that should be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Sandston VA

Sandston VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Sandston VA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered 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 brief summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Virginia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Sandston VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Sandston VA can undertake a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in several specializations, 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Sandston VA

attending electrician school online in Sandston VA An option that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling expenses from Sandston VA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Sandston VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Sandston VA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive 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 Sandston VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 help Sandston VA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade 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 within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Sandston VA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Sandston VA electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within driving distance of your Sandston residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Sandston VA, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Sandston VA?

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

Sandston, Virginia

During World War I, a number of homes were built in the area for both non-commissioned officers and enlisted men. After the war, an investment group headed by Oliver J. Sands bought the land and buildings as surplus property. The community was named Sandston after Oliver Sands, the president of the Richmond and Fairfield Railway, the electric street railway line which ran through Highland Springs and Fair Oaks to the National Cemetery at Seven Pines.

The community was later served by the Fairfield Transit Company, which operated a bus barn extant at Seven Pines in 2005 and the earlier trolley car barn in Richmond on North 29th Street. The road from Richmond, through Highland Springs, to Seven Pines was named "Nine Mile Road" because of the distance of the streetcar/trolley line.[1]

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Sandston VA

Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate 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 considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Sandston VA.