Electricians are the ones who make sure the electrical equipment in our homes and businesses is safe and functional.
If you’re passionate about electricity, you have good dexterity and you enjoy troubleshooting things, becoming an electrician can lead to a career that is both professionally and financially rewarding.
Before being ready to look for your first job in the field, the first step is to develop the skills that this profession requires.
You can do this by enrolling in a specialized program at your high school or education center, if you’re a student, or through a post-secondary program at a trade school or community college.
Virginia is home to many schools that can prepare you for a career in the electrical field.
To help you choose the program that best meets your needs, on this page we have compiled information about some of the top schools in the region.
1Norfolk Technical Center
About the School
Norfolk Technical Center prepares students for secondary education or employment by offering training programs in several areas of study, including business and marketplace, engineering and technical careers, fine arts, health, and human services.
The programs are available for Norfolk high school students in grades 10th, 11th, or 12th and graduates who are residents of Norfolk and are less than 20 years of age.
Courses Offered
An electricity program is available at the school.
This two-year program is designed to prepare students with the skills and technical knowledge needed to enter the electrical industry as an apprentice or pursue education at a higher level.
Students learn about electricity, blueprint reading, residential and commercial electrical design, the National Electrical Code, and occupational safety in the construction industry.
They also study some other skills, such as:
- Using tools and materials
- Interpreting prints and specifications
- Describing generators and power supplies
- Exploring environmental-friendly choices
- Examining lighting systems
- Installing transformers
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1330 North Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502
- Phone: (757) 892-3300
- Website: https://www.npsk12.com/ntc
2Virginia Technical Institute
About the School
Virginia Technical Institute offers hands-on training programs in electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, carpentry, and many other fields.
The programs are designed for high school students and adults who want to earn a journeyman’s license in the field of their choice.
Students attend classes two nights per week from 5 to 9 p.m.
Trade education programs take approximately two years to complete.
CORE and Level 1 classes, except the Welding program, cost $1,870.
Level 2-4 classes cost approximately $1,719.
The institute uses a curriculum from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
Virginia Technical Institute is certified through the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
Courses Offered
The institute provides an Electrical program that has five levels of study.
The curriculum includes an orientation to the electrical trade, electrical safety, an introduction to electrical circuits, device boxes, basic electrical construction drawings, electric lighting, circuit breakers and fuses, commercial electrical systems, and many other topics.
Contact Information
- Address: 201 Ogden Road, Altavista, Virginia 24517
- Phone: 434-369-8200
- Website: https://www.govti.org
3JASA Trade School
About the School
JASA Trade School offers hybrid courses that allow students to complete the instruction at their own pace through hands-on labs and experience.
The online training part includes simulations and knowledge checks.
Hands-on labs and instructions take place in person at the school.
The school uses one of the top curriculums in the country and prepares students for a career that allows them to earn a wage while they learn.
Hands-on training is available in skilled trades such as Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Web Development, Graphic Design, Welding, Automotive, and more.
The school is accredited through IACET.
Its courses count for credits with NATE and have transferring continuing education units.
Courses Offered
The school also provides an Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program that prepares prospective apprentices with practical instruction about today’s basic household wiring, special circuits, and other electrical systems.
This course takes 10-12 weeks to complete and includes 260 hours of training in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 1775 Tysos Blvd., McLean VA 22102
- Phone: 571-306-3066
- Website: https://jasainctradeschool.com
4Center for Employment Training
About the School
The Center for Employment Training offers trade school programs that prepare students for a future career.
The school has year-round open enrollment.
Full-time students can complete the program in under one year.
CET is approved to offer veterans education benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency.
The programs are designed to prepare students for new careers in eight or nine months.
Courses Offered
The center’s catalog includes an Electrician (Residential and General) program designed to prepare students for careers in the electrical field.
This program includes 900 hours of training and is available during the daytime in San Jose and Soledad.
Classes meet from Monday-Friday for six hours.
The Center has open enrollment which allows students to start classes when they are ready.
The class includes a hands-on part that covers planning and installation.
Students also learn how to inspect, troubleshoot, and repair electrical systems.
After enrollment, students are eligible to register for an Electrician in Training card.
The curriculum covers topics on Electrical Safety, Commercial Electricity, Photovoltaic Systems, Concepts in Customer Service, Residential Electricity, Wiring and Installation, and Job Preparation.
Contact Information
- Address: 6295 Edsall Road Plaza 500, Suite 220, Alexandria, VA 22312
- Phone: (703) 461-9767
- Website: https://cetweb.edu/location/alexandria-va
5Virginia Technical Academy
About the School
Virginia Technical Academy offers training programs in the HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Appliance Repair, and Building/Property Maintenance fields.
Courses Offered
The academy provides Electrical facilities and Course Programs approved for related training instruction.
The Electrical Career Track programs include 180 hours of classroom and lab coursework.
The Electrical program includes four levels of study:
- Electrical Level I- the first level of training includes 120 hours
- Electrical Level II- the second level includes 180 hours of training
- Electrical Level III- 180 hours of training are included in this program
- Electrical Level IV- the fourth level also includes 180 hours of training
The curriculum includes instruction in the principles of electronics, electrical systems, wiring, power transmission, safety, job estimation, applicable codes and standards, and more.
The following Electrical Accelerated courses are also available at Virginia Technical Academy:
- Electrical Basics
- Electrical Theory and Lighting
- Residential & Commercial Electrical Load Calculations
- Electrical Emergency Systems & Advanced Controls
Contact Information
- Address: 809 Omni BlvdNewport News, VA 23606
- Phone: 757-586-5322
- Website: https://vtacademy.com
6Blue Ridge Community College
About the School
Blue Ridge Community College provides degree, diploma, and certificate programs that prepare students for new careers upon graduation.
The programs are also designed for students who want to seamlessly transfer to a four-year degree at a university.
Dual enrollment classes are also available at the college.
These classes allow high school students to take classes taught by their teachers at their schools and use these credits toward a high school diploma and earn college credit at the same time.
Tuition is $154 per credit for Virginia Residents.
Additional fees bring the total per-credit cost to $178.80 for Virginia residents.
Blue Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees.
Courses Offered
Among many other pathways, the college’s catalog includes an Automotive Analysis and Repair program.
This program can lead to the following Certificates:
- Automotive Undercar and HVAC Systems
- Automotive Fuel and Electrical Systems
- Automotive Mechanical Systems
The Automotive Fuel and Electrical Systems program includes the following courses:
- Automotive Electricity
- Automotive Electronics
- Automotive Fuel Systems
- Computerized Fuel Systems
In total, this program requires 19 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: Box 80, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486
- Phone: (540) 234-9261
- Website: https://www.brcc.edu
7Mountain Empire Community College
About the School
Mountain Empire Community College is a two-year college that serves students of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson counties, and the city of Norton.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 19:1
Programs are available in 69 fields of study.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, the college’s catalog includes an Electricity (Career Studies) program.
This path leads to an Electrical Career Studies Certificate and helps students gain the knowledge and experience needed for gainful employment in the electricity industry.
Students learn a variety of skills, including:
- Knowledge of safe working practices and procedures
- Blueprint reading
- Troubleshooting techniques
- Knowledge of the National Electrical Code
- NCCER certification of the Electrical Level 1 and the Core Curriculum
- Good work practices with other workers
- Common wiring methods of both residential and commercial standards
Contact Information
- Address: 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
- Phone: (276) 523-2400
- Website: https://www.mecc.edu
8Massanutten Technical Center
About the School
Massanutten Technical Center offers training programs for high school students and adults.
The center began serving the community in 1972.
Apprenticeships are also available for students who are at least 16 years of age.
Apprentices learn a new trade through on-the-job training and classroom instruction following state standards.
Courses Offered
Massanutten Technical Center provides the following Electrical programs:
- Basic Motor Controls
- Electricity
- Industrial Troubleshooting
- Programmable Logic Controls
- National Electric Code
An electrical program is also available for high school students.
Individuals enrolled in this program can choose between several electrical specialties, including residential wiring, commercial and industrial wiring, as well as industrial electrical maintenance and troubleshooting.
Apprenticeships allow students to prepare for a skilled occupation through a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.
These programs are available for students at least 16 years of age.
Courses Offered
- Address: 325 Pleasant Valley Rd, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
- Phone: (540) 434-5961 (high school courses) | (540) 434-5962 (adult & continuing education)
- Website: https://www.mtcva.com
9Laurel Ridge Community College
About the School
Laurel Ridge Community College offers programs that can be completed in weeks, not years, and prepare students for entry-level employment in a variety of in-demand fields fast.
The college offers a wide range of affordable and effective custom training solutions.
In-person and online courses are available.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Manufacturing/construction trades pathway with a variety of hands-on courses, including one in the Electrical field.
OSHA training, Construction project management, welding, and many other topics are also available.
Costs vary depending on the program.
An Electrical Basics class costs $639 and is available at the Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus.
A textbook is included in the tuition.
The course covers the fundamental concepts that equip students with the skills they need when fixing things around their homes.
The topics studied include electrical theory, electrical safety, introduction to electrical circuits, introduction to the national electrical code, hand-bending conductors and cables, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645
- Phone: 540-868-7021
- Website: https://laurelridgeworkforce.com
10Wytheville Community College
About the School
Wytheville Community College provides technical programs that prepare students for a variety of in-demand career pathways as well as short-term training programs.
Transfer degree programs for the first two years of a baccalaureate degree are also available at the college.
These allow students to start their post-secondary education at the college and, later on, transfer to a four-year institution.
The college has three campuses, Wytheville, Crossroads Institute, and Henderson.
Resident tuition is $154 per semester credit hour.
Additional fees bring the total cost to $157.50 per credit hour for Virginia residents.
Courses Offered
An Electrical track is available at the college Wytheville Community College.
This program can lead to a certificate or diploma, depending on the number of credits achieved.
The Certificate program includes courses on:
- Introduction to Construction
- OSHA 30 Construction Safety
- Home Electric Power
- Basic Electricity
- Residential Wiring Methods
- Supervised Studies in Electricity
In total, this path includes 17 credits.
The four-semester Diploma program also includes Blueprint Reading, Sustainable Construction, Electrical Troubleshooting, Solar Power- Photovoltaic and Thermal Technology, a Coordinated Internship, and other topics.
The diploma requires a minimum of 60 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 East Main Street, Wytheville, VA 24382
- Phone: (276) 223-4700
- Website: https://www.wcc.vccs.edu
Regional Salary in Virginia
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 240 | $56,260 | $27.05 | $69,360 | $37,350 |
Charlottesville, VA | 740 | $62,540 | $30.07 | $98,070 | $37,670 |
Harrisonburg, VA | 340 | $56,570 | $27.2 | $79,860 | $38,260 |
Lynchburg, VA | 370 | $56,100 | $26.97 | $81,810 | $33,930 |
Richmond, VA | 3,430 | $58,880 | $28.31 | $80,800 | $37,250 |
Roanoke, VA | 820 | $54,070 | $26 | $71,120 | $37,530 |
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | 170 | $56,400 | $27.12 | $79,740 | $37,570 |
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 4,880 | $58,930 | $28.33 | $77,730 | $37,500 |
Winchester, VA-WV | 150 | $60,580 | $29.12 | $83,200 | $36,580 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of best electrician schools in the state of Virginia, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the one that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
This is an important step, so take your time and make an informed decision.