Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Springfield VA 22150

How to Become an Electrician in Springfield Virginia

Springfield VA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Springfield VA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many points to consider. For instance, some potential students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final decision when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Springfield VA

Springfield VA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Springfield VA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the three most common programs available.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by Virginia technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are offered by Virginia junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Virginia institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Springfield VA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Springfield VA can undertake a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be obtained in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Springfield VA

attending electrician school online in Springfield VAA possibility that you might have considered is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving expenses from Springfield VA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Springfield VA electrician re-wiring circuit panelOnce you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Springfield VA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the Springfield VA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course 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 course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also signify 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 list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Springfield VA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Springfield VA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Springfield VA electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Springfield home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult 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 students and instructors. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Springfield VA, verify that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Springfield VA?

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

Springfield, Virginia

Springfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The Springfield CDP is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau with a population of 30,484 as of the 2010 census. Homes and businesses in bordering CDPs including North Springfield, West Springfield, and Newington are usually given a "Springfield" mailing address. The population of the collective areas with Springfield addresses is estimated to exceed 100,000. The CDP is a part of Northern Virginia, the most populous region of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.49%) is water.

The area is dominated by the interchange of I-95, I-395, and the Capital Beltway (I-495), known as the Springfield Interchange. The center of the town is at the intersection of Route 644 (Old Keene Mill Road / Franconia Road) and Route 617 (Backlick Road) adjacent to the interchange. A significant commercial district exists around the interchange area, but the rest of the community is primarily residential in character.

The location could not be found.

Select the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Springfield VA

Selecting the right electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Springfield VA.

Other Cool Cities in Virginia

  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Virgilina VA 24598
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Stephens City VA 22655
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Huddleston VA 24104
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Delaplane VA 20144
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Catlett VA 20119
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lignum VA 22726
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Tazewell VA 24651
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Fredericksburg VA 22401
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Appomattox VA 24522
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Williamsville VA 24487
  •  

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 437

    BWS Electrical
    59 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Springfield, VA 22150

    Mister Rogers Electric
    248 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Alexandria, VA 22304

    All American Electric
    10 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment
    Phone:
    5436 Broadmoor St, Alexandria, VA 22315

    JW Right Electric
    8 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Fort Washington, MD 20744

    R&A Electrical Services
    32 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    30 S Old Glebe Rd, Ste B1, Arlington, VA 22204

    Old Town Electrician
    12 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    587 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

    Long Electric
    7 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    7138 Little River Tpke, Ste 305, Annandale, VA 22003

    Wells Electric
    2 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Annandale, VA 22003

    Dora Electric
    30 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    3603 Malibu Cir, Falls Church, VA 22041

    Poppy's Family Electric Service
    53 Reviews
    Electricians, Lighting Fixtures & Equipment
    Phone:
    10012 Peterson St, Fairfax, VA 22031