Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Atlantic City NJ 08401

How to Become an Electrician in Atlantic City New Jersey

Atlantic City NJ electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Atlantic City NJ. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found a few that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Atlantic City NJ

Atlantic City NJ electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Atlantic City NJ. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by New Jersey technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are provided by New Jersey junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some New Jersey colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Atlantic City NJ electricians working on power lines Electricians in Atlantic City NJ can carry out a vast array of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Atlantic City NJ

attending electrician school online in Atlantic City NJ An alternative that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Atlantic City NJ are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Atlantic City NJ electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Atlantic City NJ area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other factors that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Atlantic City NJ program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. 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 course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can result in 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Atlantic City NJ grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Atlantic City NJ area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Atlantic City NJ electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Atlantic City home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their feedback concerning 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 Atlantic City NJ, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Atlantic City NJ?

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

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is a resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2010, it had a population of 39,558.[10][11][12][21][22] The city was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township.[23] It borders Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, Egg Harbor Township, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Atlantic City inspired the U.S. version of the board game Monopoly, especially the street names. Since 1921, Atlantic City has been the home of the Miss America pageant. In 1976, New Jersey voters legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City. The first casino opened two years later.

Because of its location in South Jersey, hugging the Atlantic Ocean between marshlands and islands, Atlantic City was viewed by developers as prime real estate and a potential resort town. In 1853, the first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, was built at the intersection of Massachusetts and Atlantic Avenues.[24] The city was incorporated in 1854, the same year in which the Camden and Atlantic Railroad train service began.[25] Built on the edge of the bay, this served as the direct link of this remote parcel of land with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That same year, construction of the Absecon Lighthouse, designed by George Meade of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, was approved, with work initiated the next year.[26] By 1874, almost 500,000 passengers a year were coming to Atlantic City by rail. In Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, "Atlantic City's Godfather"[27] Nelson Johnson describes the inspiration of Dr. Jonathan Pitney (the "Father of Atlantic City"[28]) to develop Atlantic City as a health resort, his efforts to convince the municipal authorities that a railroad to the beach would be beneficial, his successful alliance with Samuel Richards (entrepreneur and member of the most influential family in southern New Jersey at the time) to achieve that goal, the actual building of the railroad, and the experience of the first 600 riders, who "were chosen carefully by Samuel Richards and Jonathan Pitney":[29]

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrician Technical School near Atlantic City NJ

Choosing the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program offers different options for certification also. Probably the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Atlantic City NJ.