Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Stafford VA 22554

How to Become an Electrician in Stafford Virginia

Stafford VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Stafford VA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have located several that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only things that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when picking an electrician school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Stafford VA

Stafford VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Stafford VA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Virginia institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Stafford VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Stafford VA can carry out a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Stafford VA

attending electrician school online in Stafford VA A possibility that you might have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Stafford VA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Stafford 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 tech and trade schools in the Stafford VA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Stafford VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Stafford VA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Stafford VA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides 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 state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Stafford VA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Stafford home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Stafford VA, confirm that the schools you are considering 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, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Stafford VA?

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

Stafford, Virginia

Stafford is a census-designated place (listed as Stafford Courthouse) in and the county seat of Stafford County in the northern part of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia.[1] The population of Stafford County as of the 2010 United States Census was 142,003.[2] It lies 10 miles (16 km) north of Fredericksburg, approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of metropolitan Washington, D.C., and about 60 miles (97 km) north of Richmond, the Commonwealth capital. The Marine Corps Base Quantico is located north of the community. Stafford Courthouse is located at the intersections of U.S. Highway 1, and Courthouse Road.

English sea captain Samuel Argall abducted the Pamunkey princess Pocahontas near this area on April 13, 1613, while she was residing with her Patawomeck husband, Kocoum, in an attempt to secure some English prisoners for release and ammunition held by her father. It occurred in the northeastern part of this county, from where the colonists took her to a secondary English settlement, known as Henricus or Henrico Town. The vicar Alexander Whitaker converted Pocahontas to Christianity during her captivity. He renamed her "Rebecca" at her baptism. Rebecca married English colonist John Rolfe on April 5, 1614, in Jamestown.[3][4]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Stafford VA

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Stafford VA.