Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lindenhurst NY 11757

How to Become an Electrician in Lindenhurst New York

Lindenhurst NY electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Lindenhurst NY. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many points to consider. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole factors that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your final decision when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Lindenhurst NY

Lindenhurst NY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general approaches to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Lindenhurst NY. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Often 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 earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by New York technical and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to complete and are offered by New York junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain New York institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. For that reason, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Lindenhurst NY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lindenhurst NY can perform a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases involves three levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying agencies include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Lindenhurst NY

attending electrician school online in Lindenhurst NY An alternative that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Driving expenses from Lindenhurst NY are also minimized and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Lindenhurst NY electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Lindenhurst NY area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Lindenhurst NY program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states require 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also signify that the teachers 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 directory of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lindenhurst NY grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working partnerships with Lindenhurst NY area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lindenhurst NY electrical contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Lindenhurst residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Lindenhurst NY, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lindenhurst NY?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Lindenhurst NY area.

Lindenhurst, New York

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 10.0 km² (3.8 sq mi). 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.57%) is water.

The village was originally named "Breslau" because the town's original German settlers were from the city of Breslau in Silesia, present-day Wrocław, Poland. The town was founded in 1873, and renamed Lindenhurst in 1891.[1]

On October 30, 2012, Hurricane Sandy[5] flooded over half the village's streets.[6] On the southern side of Montauk Highway the water reached up to 6 feet (1.8 m) high. When multiple fires broke out south of Montauk Highway, firefighters were able to contain these fires to their respective dwellings limiting further damage to neighboring houses.[5] Firefighters from most of the Town of Babylon helped control the fires in Lindenhurst. Firefighters fought the blazes in water that was 4 feet high in high spots and 6 feet in lower areas. The people that lived on the northern side of Lindenhurst had no power for over a week. Because too many people wanted to view the effects of the disaster on the south side of Lindenhurst, the police force had to impose limitations. Curfews were enforced, and only people with proof of residency were allowed south of Montauk Highway. After two days the water went down.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Right Electrical Vocational School near Lindenhurst NY

Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are evaluating includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each program offers unique options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program 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 Lindenhurst NY.