Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Medford NY 11763

How to Become an Electrician in Medford New York

Medford NY electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Medford NY. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Medford NY

Medford NY electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Medford NY. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by New York technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by New York community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some New York colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Medford NY electricians working on power lines Electricians in Medford NY can perform a vast array of duties, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in various specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually 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 choose not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Medford NY

attending electrician school online in Medford NY An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Medford NY are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Medford NY electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Medford NY region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Medford NY school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Medford NY students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Medford NY area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained 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, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Medford NY electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Medford home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Medford NY, confirm that the schools you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Medford NY?

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

Medford, New York

Medford is a community in the southwest part of the Town of Brookhaven. It is served by the Patchogue-Medford School District, except for extreme southeastern Medford, which is served by the South Country Central School District, and extreme northeastern Medford, which is served by the Longwood Central School District. Some neighborhoods in Yaphank have Medford's zip code (11763).

The Long Island Rail Road established the Medford Station in 1843 in a flat wilderness in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens. The station connected to the Patchogue Stage Road between Patchogue and Port Jefferson, and a post office was established.[2]

In 1850 the LIRR auctioned the land around the station. The O.L. Schwenke Land & Investment Co. bought 4 square miles (10 km2) and then subdivided the land into 25-by-100-foot (7.6 by 30.5 m) lots which sold for $10 to $75. The land remained poor for farming. According to legend, in a marketing attempt a mock factory with a phony roof was built near the tracks, and when a train neared, tar paper was burned to give the impression that a booming industry existed in the community.[2]

The location could not be found.

Find the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Medford NY

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably 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 examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Medford NY.