Find Electrician Schools Near Me in New Kent VA 23124

How to Become an Electrician in New Kent Virginia

New Kent VA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near New Kent VA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are a number of variables to examine. For example, some students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located some that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near New Kent VA

New Kent VA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near New Kent VA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Virginia trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Virginia colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

New Kent VA electricians working on power lines Electricians in New Kent VA can carry out a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in New Kent VA

attending electrician school online in New Kent VA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from New Kent VA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

New Kent VA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the New Kent VA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are other variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the New Kent VA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s also imperative 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 employ 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help New Kent VA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with New Kent VA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local New Kent VA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your New Kent home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near New Kent VA, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Kent VA?

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

New Kent County, Virginia

New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County[4] and was organized and settled by William Claiborne.[5] The county's name originated because several prominent inhabitants, including William Claiborne, recently had been forced from their settlement at Kent Island, Maryland by Lord Baltimore upon the formation of Maryland.[5] Claiborne had named the island for his birthplace in Kent, England. New Kent County is the birthplace of two U. S. Presidents' wives - Martha Washington and Letitia Christian Tyler. The church where George and Martha Washington are believed to have been wed, St. Peters, still holds services today. The Chickahominy Indians frequented this area as well as nearby Charles City County and two tribes are still well-established in this area.

Among the earliest settlers of New Kent County was Nicholas Gentry, who settled in New Kent in 1684. The parish register books of St. Peter's Parish show that Nicholas Gentry's daughter was baptized in the church in 1687. The records also reflect other Gentrys, probably Nicholas Gentry's relations, Peter and Samuel Gentry.[6] As the result of arson confessed to by John Price Posey and Tho Green, and, allegedly, involving "a negro boy belonging to W. Chamberlayne" on 15 July 1787, many later county records were burned, making identifying relationships between family members difficult.[7]

Due to the "many Inconveniencys" suffered by the "Upper Inhabitants by reason of their Great distance from the Court house and other places usually appointed for publick meetings", New Kent County was divided "into Two distinct Countys and that that part of the County lyeing below the parish of Saint Paul shall for Ever thereafter be called and knowne by the Name of New Kent County And that that part of the County which lyeth in the parish of Saint Paul Shall be called and knowne by the Name of Hannover County" In 1720, a portion of New Kent County known then as St. Paul's Parish was formed into a separate county, now Hanover County.[8][9]

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Choose the Right Electrical Tech School near New Kent VA

Selecting the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in New Kent VA.