Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Ashland VA 23005

How to Become an Electrician in Ashland Virginia

Ashland VA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Ashland VA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of factors to evaluate. For instance, many students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Ashland VA

Ashland VA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several options to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Ashland VA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the three most typical programs available.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Virginia vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Virginia institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Ashland VA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Ashland VA can carry out a vast array of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Ashland VA

attending electrician school online in Ashland VAA possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Ashland VA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Ashland VA electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Ashland VA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first 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 final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Ashland VA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct 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 can result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Ashland VA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many electrician training 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 contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Ashland VA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Ashland VA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Ashland residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Ashland VA, check that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Ashland VA?

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

Ashland, Virginia

Ashland is a town located 16 miles (26 km) north of Richmond along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 in Hanover County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 7,225,[4] up from 6,619 at the 2000 census.

Ashland is named after the Lexington, Kentucky estate of Hanover County native and statesman Henry Clay. It is the only incorporated town in Hanover County. Although comprising only one square mile when originally incorporated in 1858, today Ashland has grown through several annexations to a size of 7.16 square miles (18.5 km2), one of Virginia's larger towns in terms of land area.[citation needed]

The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad initially developed the town in the 1840s as a mineral springs resort with a racetrack. The town was named "Ashland" after native son Henry Clay's estate in Kentucky and was officially incorporated on February 19, 1858. The area had been known as "The Slashes", sometimes translated as "swamp", but which also reflected the small ravines that formed in the sandy clay soil after hard rains.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrical Technical School near Ashland VA

Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Ashland VA.

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