How to Become an Electrician in Keystone West Virginia
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Keystone WV. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Keystone WV
There are several options to obtain electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Keystone WV. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by West Virginia trade and technical schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are provided by West Virginia community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some West Virginia institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines
Electricians in Keystone WV can carry out a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Training Classes Online in Keystone WV
An option that you may have considered is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Keystone WV are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Keystone WV area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn 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. Make certain that the Keystone WV school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Keystone WV graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Keystone WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with 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 expecting. If not, ask a local Keystone WV electrical contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Keystone home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges 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 larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Keystone WV, check that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Keystone WV?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Keystone WV area.
Keystone, West Virginia
Keystone is a city in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 282 at the 2010 census. Keystone is one of several municipalities in West Virginia with an African-American majority, with 65 percent of the residents being black.
Larry Scott Deaner wrote about the historical geography of the African-American population of Keystone in his 2004 Master's thesis. Deaner calls Keystone the cultural capital of the "Free State of McDowell" - a term coined by Matthew Thomas Whittico, a local newspaper editor and community leader from Keystone in the early 20th century. Keystone possessed a unique combination of political, social, and economic characteristics that made it an attractive place for African-Americans to migrate to in the late 1800s and early 1900s.[5]
Keystone was founded in 1892 by the Keystone Coal & Coke Company. Keystone was then incorporated in 1909 by the Circuit Court of McDowell County. Its name is derived from the name of the coal and coke company operating at that point.[6] The city was formerly known as Cassville.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Keystone WV
Selecting the right electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect 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, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Keystone WV.
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