Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Burlington NJ 08016

How to Become an Electrician in Burlington New Jersey

Burlington NJ electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Burlington NJ. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Burlington NJ

Burlington NJ electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Burlington NJ. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by New Jersey trade and technical schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are offered by New Jersey junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain New Jersey colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Burlington NJ electricians working on power lines Electricians in Burlington NJ can undertake a wide range of tasks, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Burlington NJ

attending electrician school online in Burlington NJ An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be attended online, internet learning might be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Burlington NJ are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Burlington NJ electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Burlington NJ region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Burlington NJ program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Burlington NJ students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Burlington NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Burlington NJ electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Burlington residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Burlington NJ, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask 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 Burlington NJ?

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

Burlington, New Jersey

Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 9,920,[10][11][12] reflecting an increase of 184 (+1.9%) from the 9,736 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 99 (−1.0%) from the 9,835 counted in the 1990 Census.[21]

Burlington was first incorporated on October 24, 1693, and was reincorporated by Royal charter on May 7, 1733. After American independence, the city was incorporated by the State of New Jersey on December 21, 1784. On March 14, 1851, the city was reincorporated and enlarged with portions of the surrounding township.[22]

Burlington was originally the county seat of Burlington County but in 1796, as the population had been increasing to the east away from the Delaware River, the county seat was moved to Mount Holly Township, a more central location.[23]

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Right Electrician Technical School near Burlington NJ

Choosing the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to offer a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you select is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Burlington NJ.