How to Pick the Right Technical School Program near Fairmont West Virginia
Choosing to enter into a new profession and enroll in a vocational school near Fairmont WV are serious decisions that will greatly affect your long term career. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake finding the right one? Not only do you have to make certain that you will obtain the complete training needed to succeed in your new field, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. Many prospective students make the mistake of enrolling in a trade school just because the campus is closest to their home or place of employment. Others might gravitate to the school that has the most affordable tuition. Of course the location and cost of the programs are critical considerations when evaluating trade school options, but they can not be the only ones. Additional considerations including accreditation and the reputation of the schools are important also. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will review several of those questions later in this article. But to start with, let’s talk about some of the vocation options that are offered as well as the accessibility of online schools.
Vocational School Program Options near Fairmont WV
There are a number of professions to choose from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have for years desired to pursue. For instance, perhaps you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that talent to earn a living as a car mechanic. Or maybe a family member has had a long and successful career in a specific vocation or trade and you would like to follow in his or her footsteps. Whatever your motivation is for going into a trade, there is probably a program offered that will give you the training you need. Below is merely a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are offered in the Fairmont WV area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrical Technician
- Welder
- Truck Driving
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Technician
- Construction Management
Each of the programs will have differing costs and completion times based upon the vocation, type of credential and school. Some of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will call for months or even two or more years of instruction. Each of these variables need to be considered before selecting a vocation and school.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Trade Schools Near You!
Online Vocational Schools
Online schools have become more attractive with Fairmont WV students and a growing number of accredited programs are becoming available. Although online learning is a readily available and practical way to earn a certificate or degree, it may not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For example, training to drive a semi truck is not something that you can do online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that must be learned through hands on training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain components of the training can be suitable for online classes, for example studying safety and driving guidelines for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Many programs will blend online education with on-campus lab work, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is essential to ask before enrolling in an online school for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training allocated to the course of study. One means to help ensure that a trade school program is both appropriate for online learning and provides comprehensive hands-on training is to verify that it’s accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are suitable for online training, it can be a convenient way for students with time constraints to learn a new profession.
Concerns to Ask Trade Schools
After you have chosen the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you wish to earn, either on campus or online, you can start to narrow down your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are many trade schools in the Fairmont WV area and across the Country to pick from. That’s why it is imperative to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school evaluations. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the first 2 aspects you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. A large number of Fairmont WV area vocational schools 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 pertains to a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states require that the training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help assess the quality of a vocational school near Fairmont WV is how long it has been in operation. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school usually will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. However, even the best of schools had to start from their opening day of training, so use it as one of several qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify 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 broader directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help students secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Fairmont WV area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many 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 businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Fairmont WV area specialists in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Fairmont WV 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 residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is in West Virginia and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Fairmont WV, confirm that the programs you are considering offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Online Technical Schools Fairmont West Virginia
Selecting the ideal trade school near Fairmont WV is a crucial first step toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have covered in this article, you need to select a school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. Other factors to look for are sufficient hands-on training and modern facilities. You need to go to each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to inspect the campus and talk with both the faculty and current students. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling options and if night or weekend classes are available if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial aid and student loan options also. You initially came to this website because of your interest in Online Technical Schools and wanting more information on the topic Local Tech Schools. However, if you ask the proper questions as we have laid out in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.
Other West Virginia Hard Working Locations
Fairmont, West Virginia
Prior to the founding of Fairmont, the land that would become Marion County was part of Monongalia and Harrison County.[6] In the 1700s, the earliest development of this area consisted of subsistence farming settlements.[7] In 1789, Boaz Fleming, a Revolutionary War veteran, migrated to this area and purchased a 254-acre farm from Jonathan Bozarth. Oral history indicates that in 1808, Fleming made his annual trek to Clarksburg to pay his brother's Harrison County taxes.[8] While in Clarksburg, Fleming attended a social gathering that included his cousin, Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison. Fleming complained to Mrs. Madison about having to travel over a hundred miles each year from his home to pay his Monongalia County taxes and his brother's Harrison County taxes. Mrs. Madison supposedly suggested that he create his own county to save him all that travel. In 1814, Fleming circulated a petition to do precisely that, naming the proposed county Madison County, in honor of Dolley and James Madison.
Milford (now Rivesville[9]) was the only town within the borders of Fleming's proposed county, so Fleming decided to make Milford the seat of Madison County.[10] However, Milford's citizens preferred to remain part of Monongalia County. As a result, Fleming's petition failed to gain sufficient support to be presented to the Virginia General Assembly. Fleming then focused on creating a new town near his farm, which was located on the west side of the Monongahela River. In 1817, Fleming's sons—William and David—began to clear land on part of their father's farm to make way for the new town; this part of the farm would later become downtown Fairmont. In 1819, a road was built from Clarksburg to Morgantown. Fleming's new town was about halfway between the two cities, making it a good resting point. The town was incorporated as Middletown on January 19, 1820. It is unknown if the town was called Middletown because of its location midway between Clarksburg and Morgantown or because Fleming's first wife, Elizabeth Hutchinson, was originally from Middletown, Delaware.
The current borders of Marion County were established in 1842, and Middletown was named the county's seat. At that time, William Haymond, Jr. suggested that the town's name be changed to Fairmont because the town had a beautiful overlook of the Monongahela River, giving it a "fair mount." The Borough of Fairmont was incorporated in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly.[11]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
12 Reviews 