Find Electrician Schools Near Me in West Mclean VA 22103

How to Become an Electrician in West Mclean Virginia

West Mclean VA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near West Mclean VA. But with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found some that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will address 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 Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near West Mclean VA

West Mclean VA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are three general approaches to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near West Mclean VA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Virginia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

West Mclean VA electricians working on power linesElectricians in West Mclean VA can perform a vast array of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three levels of proficiency:

  • 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 tech school that you choose not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in West Mclean VA

attending electrician school online in West Mclean VAAn alternative that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from West Mclean VA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools

West Mclean VA electrician re-wiring circuit panelWhen you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the West Mclean VA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the West Mclean VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a quality education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help West Mclean VA grads obtain 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 schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with West Mclean VA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local 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 under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local West Mclean VA electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your West Mclean home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might 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 difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near West Mclean VA, verify that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near West Mclean VA?

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

McLean, Virginia

McLean (/məˈkleɪn/ mə-KLAYN)[4] is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. McLean is home to many diplomats, businessmen, members of Congress, and high-ranking government officials partially due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. and the Central Intelligence Agency. It is the location of Hickory Hill, the former home of Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy. It is also the location of Salona, the former home of Light-Horse Harry Lee, the Revolutionary War hero. The community had an estimated total population of 53,673 in 2015, according to estimates prepared by the United States Census Bureau.[5] It is located between the Potomac River and the town of Vienna. McLean is known for its luxury homes and its nearby high-end shopping destinations: the Tysons Corner Center and the Tysons Galleria. The two McLean zip codes - 22101 and 22102 - are among the most expensive ZIP Codes in Virginia and the United States.[6] In 2018, data from the American Community Survey revealed that McLean was the 3rd wealthiest city in the United States, based on its poverty rate of 2.6% and its median household income of $190,258.[7]

The community received its name from John Roll McLean, the former publisher and owner of The Washington Post. Along with Stephen Benton Elkins and French aristocrat Jean-Pierre Guenard, in 1902 he bought the charter for the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad. Completed in 1906, it connected the area with Washington, D.C. McLean named a railroad station costing $1,500, of which $500 was raised locally, after himself where the rail line (traveling on the present route of Old Dominion Drive) crossed the old Chain Bridge Road.[8] The community itself was founded in 1910, when the communities of Lewinsville and Langley merged.

McLean is located at 38°56′03″N 77°10′39″W / 38.93417°N 77.17750°W / 38.93417; -77.17750 (38.9342776, -77.1774801) at an elevation of 285 feet (87 m).[3][9] Located on the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) in Northern Virginia, central McLean is 8 miles (13 km) northwest of downtown Washington, D.C. and 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Fairfax, the county seat.[10]

The location could not be found.

Find the Ideal Electrician Trade School near West Mclean VA

Picking the best electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should 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 offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in West Mclean VA.

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