Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lewisburg WV 24901

How to Become an Electrician in Lewisburg West Virginia

Lewisburg WV electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Lewisburg WV. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For example, many potential students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have found several that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be examined. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Lewisburg WV

Lewisburg WV electrician re-wiring power outletThere are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Lewisburg WV. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by West Virginia technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are offered by West Virginia 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 enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some West Virginia colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 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

Lewisburg WV electricians working on power linesElectricians in Lewisburg WV can carry out a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around four to five years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Lewisburg WV

attending electrician school online in Lewisburg WVAn alternative that you might have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet 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 reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Lewisburg WV are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Lewisburg WV electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Lewisburg WV region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical technical school.

Accreditation.  Many electrician trade 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 an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Lewisburg WV program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate 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 more extensive directory of alumni, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lewisburg WV graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Numerous electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Lewisburg WV area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Lewisburg WV electrical company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Lewisburg home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lewisburg WV, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lewisburg WV?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lewisburg WV area.

Lewisburg, West Virginia

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.81 square miles (9.87 km2), of which 3.80 square miles (9.84 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1] Much of it is within the karst belt and a sinkhole is gated over at an intersection. It is part of the Davis Spring subwatershed, site of the state's largest spring with a daily output of one million gallons.

Historic Lewisburg is centered at the crossroads of U.S. Route 60, historically called The Midland Trail, and U.S. Route 219. Interstate 64's intersection with U.S. Route 219 near the northern border of the town has drawn most modern development into that area.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lewisburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Lewisburg WV

Selecting the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. 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 looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Lewisburg WV.

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