Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Dover NJ 07801

How to Become an Electrician in Dover New Jersey

Dover NJ electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Dover NJ. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For instance, some prospective students will start by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Dover NJ

Dover NJ electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Dover NJ. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few 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 to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally offered by New Jersey vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 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 comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain New Jersey colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Dover NJ electricians working on power lines Electricians in Dover NJ can perform a wide range of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about four to five years of experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 3 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Dover NJ

attending electrician school online in Dover NJ A possibility that you might have considered is choosing an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving costs from Dover NJ are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Dover NJ electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Dover NJ area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Dover NJ school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved 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 percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors 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 mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 assist Dover NJ students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Dover NJ area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Dover NJ electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Dover residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Dover NJ, verify that the schools you are considering offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dover NJ?

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

Dover, New Jersey

Dover is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. Located on the Rockaway River, Dover is about 31 miles (50 km) west of New York City and about 23 miles (37 km) west of Newark, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 18,157,[9][10][11] reflecting a decline of 31 (-0.2%) from the 18,188 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,073 (+20.3%) from the 15,115 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] Dover has become a majority minority community, with nearly 70% of the population as of the 2010 Census identifying themselves as Hispanic, up from 25% in 1980.[21]

Joseph Latham was deeded the land that includes present-day Dover in 1713, from portions of land that had been purchased from Native Americans by the Proprietors of West Jersey. On May 31, 1722, Latham and his wife Jane deeded 527 acres (2.13 km2) over to John Jackson of Flushing, New York. Jackson settled on the eastern portion of his land along Granny's Brook at the site of what would later become the Ross Ribbon Factory on Park Heights Avenue.[22]

Iron ore at the time was so plentiful that it could be collected off the ground at the nearby Dickerson Mine in Mine Hill. At Jackson's Forge, ore would be processed into bars that would then be transported to Paterson and other industrial areas towards the east. The passage of the Iron Act by the British Parliament led to financial difficulties, leading Jackson into bankruptcy in 1753, with all of his property and belongings sold off at a Sheriff's sale. Quaker Hartshorne Fitz Randolph purchased Jackson's property and annexed to his own existing property, which would later become part of Randolph Township.[23]

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Dover NJ

Choosing the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Dover NJ.