Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Allentown NJ 08501

How to Become an Electrician in Allentown New Jersey

Allentown NJ electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Allentown NJ. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located several that are within commuting range, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Allentown NJ

Allentown NJ electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Allentown NJ. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by New Jersey trade and technical schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are offered by New Jersey junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New Jersey colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Allentown NJ electricians working on power lines Electricians in Allentown NJ can carry out a wide range of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Allentown NJ

attending electrician school online in Allentown NJ A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Allentown NJ are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Allentown NJ electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Allentown NJ area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received 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 certain that the Allentown NJ program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Allentown NJ graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Allentown NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Allentown NJ electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Allentown residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Allentown NJ, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Allentown NJ?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Allentown NJ area.

Allentown, New Jersey

Allentown is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 1,828,[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 54 (-2.9%) from the 1,882 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 54 (+3.0%) from the 1,828 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

Allentown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of Upper Freehold Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[20] The borough was named for settler Robert Burnet's son-in-law, Nathan Allen[21] or for William Allen, who served as Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania.[22]

Allentown's shopping district has antique and specialty shops, as well as restaurants. Many historic homes and historic buildings are located in the borough. The Horse Park of New Jersey is a park located near the borough but does have an Allentown mailing address.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Allentown NJ

Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Allentown NJ.