Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Gloucester VA 23061

How to Become an Electrician in Gloucester Virginia

Gloucester VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Gloucester VA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should influence your final decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Gloucester VA

Gloucester VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Gloucester VA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most common programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Virginia technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Virginia colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Gloucester VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Gloucester VA can carry out a wide range of functions, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Gloucester VA

attending electrician school online in Gloucester VA An option that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling costs from Gloucester VA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Gloucester VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Gloucester VA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Gloucester VA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Gloucester VA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Gloucester VA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by supplying practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm 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, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Gloucester VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Gloucester home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Gloucester VA, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make 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 because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Gloucester VA?

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

Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia

The Gloucester County Courthouse Square Historic District, Gloucester Downtown Historic District, Abingdon Glebe House, Airville, Burgh Westra, Cappahosic House, Gloucester Point Archaeological District, Gloucester Women's Club, Hockley, Little England, Roaring Spring, Rosewell, Toddsbury, T.C. Walker House, Ware Parish Church, and Warner Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4][5][6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,269 people, 857 households, and 561 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 324.7 people per square mile (125.3/km²). There were 907 housing units at an average density of 129.8/sq mi (50.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.78% White, 10.67% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.48% from other races,1.00% of households had 7 people., and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

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Select the Right Electrical Tech School near Gloucester VA

Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Gloucester VA.