Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Staunton VA 24401

How to Become an Electrician in Staunton Virginia

Staunton VA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Staunton VA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified a few that are within commuting distance, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Staunton VA

Staunton VA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Staunton VA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most typical programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Virginia community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Virginia institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Staunton VA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Staunton VA can perform a vast array of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Staunton VA

attending electrician school online in Staunton VAAn alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more convenient choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Staunton VA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Staunton VA electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Staunton VA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Staunton VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Staunton VA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Staunton VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies 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 trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Staunton VA electrical 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 Staunton home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Staunton VA, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Staunton VA?

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

Staunton, Virginia

Staunton (/ˈstæntən/ STAN-tən) is an independent city in the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,746.[3] In Virginia, independent cities are separate jurisdictions from the counties that surround them, so the government offices of Augusta County are in Verona, which is contiguous to Staunton.[4]

Staunton is known for being the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. president, and the home of Mary Baldwin University, historically a women's college. The city is also home to Stuart Hall, a private co-ed preparatory school, as well as the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.

The area was first settled in 1732 by John Lewis and family. In 1736, William Beverley, a wealthy planter and merchant from Essex County, was granted by the Crown over 118,000 acres (48,000 hectares) in what would become Augusta County. Surveyor Thomas Lewis in 1746 laid out the first town plat for Beverley of what was originally called Beverley's Mill Place.[5] Founded in 1747, it was renamed in honor of Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife to Royal Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Gooch.[6] Because the town was located at the geographical center of the colony (which then included West Virginia), Staunton served between 1738 and 1771 as regional capital for what was known as the Northwest Territory, with the westernmost courthouse in British North America prior to the Revolution.[7] By 1760, Staunton was one of the major "remote trading centers in the backcountry" which coordinated the transportation of the vast amounts of grain and tobacco then being produced in response to the change of Britain from a net exporter of produce to an importer. Staunton thus played a crucial role in the mid 18th century expansion of the economies of the American Colonies which, in turn, contributed to the success of the American Revolution.[8] It served as capital of Virginia in June 1781, when state legislators fled Richmond and then Charlottesville to avoid capture by the British.

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Staunton VA

Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Staunton VA.

Other Cool Cities in Virginia

  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Marion VA 24354
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Chester VA 23831
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lightfoot VA 23090
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Alberta VA 23821
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Studley VA 23162
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Surry VA 23883
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in King William VA 23086
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Shenandoah VA 22849
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Hayes VA 23072
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Elkton VA 22827
  •  

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 6

    Dudley Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    438 Franks Mill Rd, Staunton, VA 24401

    E & E Plumbing Heating & AC
    2 Reviews
    Plumbing, Electricians, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    296 Draft Ave, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477

    Draft Electric & Plumbing Service
    1 Reviews
    Building Supplies, Electricians, Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC
    Phone:
    17 Cold Springs Rd, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477

    Electrical Innovations
    2 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    670 Afton Mountain Rd, Afton, VA 22920

    Cole & Company Electrical
    4 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Charlottesville, VA 22903

    Michael & Son Services
    12 Reviews
    Heating & Air Conditioning/HVAC, Electricians, Plumbing
    Phone:
    Charlottesville, VA 22911