What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Hurricane WV area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.<\/p>\n
Accreditation. <\/strong>Numerous electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Hurricane WV school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.<\/p>\nHigh Completion and Placement Rates. <\/strong>Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and\/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Hurricane WV students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.<\/p>\nApprenticeship Programs. <\/strong>Many electrician vocational 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 within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Hurricane WV area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.<\/p>\nModern Facilities. <\/strong>Make sure 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, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Hurricane WV electrical contractor if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Hurricane home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.<\/p>\nSmaller Classes. <\/strong>It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.<\/p>\nFlexible Scheduling. <\/strong>Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Hurricane WV, verify that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.<\/p>\nConsidering Attending an Electrician School near Hurricane WV?<\/h3>\n
Following is a little bit of background information about the Hurricane WV area.<\/p>\n
Hurricane, West Virginia<\/h3>
Hurricane is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 287,702. New definitions from February 28, 2013 placed the population at 363,000.[8]<\/p>
Hurricane was named after Hurricane Creek, which was, in turn, named after a group of trees at the arm of the river bent in one direction. A party of surveyors commissioned by George Washington noted the site appeared to have been struck by a hurricane,[9] giving rise to the name. Locals pronounce the town (HURR-i-KINN) not (HURR-i-CANE).[10] Less than 17 miles (27\u00a0km) southeast of Hurricane is a post office named Tornado.\n<\/p>
A town named Hurricane Bridge was located where West Virginia Route 34 now crosses the creek, near current-day Hurricane. The town can be traced back to an 1811 Virginia map. The town primarily consisted of a large Inn. On March 28, 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought a Civil War battle at Hurricane Bridge, now known as the skirmish at Hurricane Bridge.[11]<\/p><\/div>\n