Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Louisa VA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>Many electrician trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Louisa VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.<\/p>\nHigh Completion and Placement Rates. <\/strong>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 complete the program. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also 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 employ 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 also that it has the network of contacts to assist Louisa VA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Many electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Louisa VA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Louisa VA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Louisa home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training 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 instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Louisa VA, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Louisa VA?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Louisa VA area.<\/p>\n
Louisa, Virginia<\/h3>
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,401 people, 584 households, and 331 families residing in the town. The population density was 766.8 people per square mile (295.6\/km\u00b2). There were 620 housing units at an average density of 339.4 per square mile (130.8\/km\u00b2). The racial makeup of the town was 66.81% White, 29.48% African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.<\/p>
There were 584 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.93.<\/p>
In the town, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.<\/p><\/div>\n