How to Become an Electrician in Summersville West Virginia
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Summersville WV. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Summersville WV
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Summersville WV. You can select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by West Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by West Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain West Virginia institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements
Electricians in Summersville WV can perform a multitude of services, including testing, installing and replacing 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 municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Summersville WV
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Travelling costs from Summersville WV are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Summersville WV region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Summersville WV program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Summersville WV grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Summersville WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Summersville WV electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Summersville home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors 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 schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Summersville WV, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows 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 Summersville WV?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Summersville WV area.
Summersville, West Virginia
Summersville is located at 38°17′0″N 80°50′39″W / 38.28333°N 80.84417°W / 38.28333; -80.84417 (38.283342, -80.844207).[9] It is located just north of the Gauley River which is famous for its challenging whitewater. The river is impounded by a large dam which creates Summersville Lake, creating flatwater recreation as well.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.26 square miles (11.03 km2), of which, 4.22 square miles (10.93 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[1]
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Summersville has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[10]
Enroll in the Right Electrician Tech School near Summersville WV
Selecting the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Summersville WV.
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