How to Become an Electrician in Union West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Union WV. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Union WV
There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Union WV. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by West Virginia community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain West Virginia colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Union WV can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes three levels of competency:
- 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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Union WV
An option that you may have considered is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more convenient option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Union WV are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Union WV region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Union WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order 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 or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to use 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Union WV grads secure apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Union WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Union WV electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Union home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can 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 sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Union WV, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Union WV?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Union WV area.
West Union, West Virginia
West Union, incorporated July 20, 1881, is a town in Doddridge County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 825 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Doddridge County.[6] The mayor is Joseph Thorpe as of 2013. The town is located along Middle Island Creek at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 18; the North Bend Rail Trail also passes through the town.[7]
The area was first settled in the late 1780s by James Caldwell, who owned 20,000 acres (81 km2) of land that included present West Union. Caldwell sold this land to Nathan Davis, Jr (1772-1866) and his brothers about 1807. They in turn sold 16,000 acres (65 km2) to Lewis Maxwell (1790-1862), a Virginia congressman.
The settlement was originally called Lewisport,[8] but Davis later supposedly suggested the name of "West Union", in deference to a proposed town of Union to be built on the eastern side of Middle Island Creek. (Union has disappeared, if it ever existed.) According to an early resident, A.A. Bee: "The first bridge across Middle Island Creek [at West Union] was of hewed logs with a center abutment of stones. In the great flood of 1835 it was washed away". In 1842, a contract was awarded to the well-known civil engineer Claudius Crozet to build a new covered bridge at West Union, as part of a series of public works along the Northwestern Turnpike. Ephraim Bee (1802–1888), a local blacksmith (who was also a district officer, magistrate, state legislator, hotelier, and postmaster at various times) made all the bolts and bands for the West Union Covered Bridge which was completed in 1843.
Find the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Union WV
Selecting the right electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Union WV.
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