How to Become an Electrician in Bridgeport West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Bridgeport WV. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are important, they are not the sole qualifications that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Bridgeport WV
There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Bridgeport WV. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by West Virginia trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs involve 2 years to complete and are provided by West Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some West Virginia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Bridgeport WV can perform a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Bridgeport WV
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be attended online, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Bridgeport WV are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Bridgeport WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Bridgeport WV program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train 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 graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Bridgeport WV students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Bridgeport WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Bridgeport WV electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Bridgeport residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors 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 reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Bridgeport WV, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find 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 Bridgeport WV?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Bridgeport WV area.
Bridgeport, West Virginia
The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-American Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816. When the town was incorporated in 1887, it established the office of mayor and town council. The city currently employs a City Manager. Bridgeport is home to Meadowbrook Mall, a 100-store regional shopping complex serving North-Central West Virginia.
Bridgeport originally got its name from a cartographer’s mistake. Settled in the mid-1700s by early fur traders who came west over the Allegheny Mountains, settlers were forced to build forts to protect themselves from the elements, as well as from Native Americans who didn’t care for the intrusion on their lands. Thus, as legend has it, what was known as Bridge Fort was mistakenly deemed Bridgeport. [1]
On June 29, 2006, the city became noted as the site of a showdown over the issue of separation of church and state in the United States. A portrait of Jesus originally hung on a wall at Bridgeport High School. Two parents filed suit in federal court to have the portrait removed, after the Harrison County Board of Education deadlocked over whether to remove the portrait.[2][permanent dead link] The portrait of Jesus was stolen from Bridgeport High School early in the morning on August 17, 2006 and a mirror was put in its place. [3]
Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Bridgeport WV
Selecting the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Bridgeport WV.
Other Cool Cities in West Virginia
Business Results 1 - 10 of 50
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
2 Reviews 