Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Smithfield VA 23430

How to Become an Electrician in Smithfield Virginia

Smithfield VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Smithfield VA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Smithfield VA

Smithfield VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Smithfield VA. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Virginia colleges, but are less preferred 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 four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Smithfield VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Smithfield VA can undertake a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Smithfield VA

attending electrician school online in Smithfield VA An alternative that you may have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting costs from Smithfield 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 tech 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

Smithfield VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Smithfield VA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Smithfield VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. 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 complete the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the instructors 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 more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Smithfield VA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Smithfield VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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, check with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Smithfield VA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Smithfield 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 charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Smithfield VA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Smithfield VA?

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

Smithfield, Virginia

The town is most famous for the curing and production of the Smithfield ham. The Virginia General Assembly passed a statute defining "Smithfield ham" by law in 1926, with one of the requirements that it be processed within the town limits. Smithfield Foods, a Fortune 500 company that owns Smithfield Packing Company and others, is the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. The company, based in Smithfield, raises 12 million hogs and processes 20 million pounds of them annually.

Smithfield, first colonized in 1634, is located on the Pagan River, south of Jamestown and on the south side of the James River. The Native Americans knew this area as Warascoyak, also spelled Warrosquoyacke, meaning “point of land.”

The Virginia colony officially formed Warrosquyoake Shire (with numerous variant spellings, including Warrascoyack, Warrascocke and "Warwick Squeak") in 1634, but it had already been known as "Warascoyack County" before this. It was renamed as Isle of Wight County in 1637.

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Find the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Smithfield VA

Selecting the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Smithfield VA.