Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Akron PA 17501

How to Become an Electrician in Akron Pennsylvania

Akron PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Akron PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For instance, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within driving range, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Akron PA

Akron PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Akron PA. You may enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most prevalent programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania 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 enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Akron PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Akron PA can perform a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in numerous specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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 important that the electrician tech school that you select not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Akron PA

attending electrician school online in Akron PA An alternative that you might have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Driving costs from Akron PA 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 accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Akron PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Akron PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. 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 decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Akron PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors 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 directory of graduates, which can result in 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 a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Akron PA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

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

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Akron PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Akron residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Akron PA, check that the programs you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Akron PA?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Akron PA area.

Akron, Pennsylvania

Akron is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is a mid-sized town with two main roads going through it: Main Street and 7th Street Pennsylvania Route 272. The town is mostly residential with a number of small businesses. The American headquarters of the Mennonite-related relief organizations, the Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service, are located in the town. The town features the Roland Park which has baseball fields, pavilions, a pond, a gazebo, tennis courts, a playground, a beach volleyball court, a basketball court, and an 18 target Disc golf course.

A railroad used to run through Akron and served a railroad station in the town. A trolley also used to run in parts of the borough. The railroad has since been abandoned and is now the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 4,046 people, 1,622 households, and 1,138 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,199.8 people per square mile (1,239.8/km²). There were 1,687 housing units at an average density of 1,334.2 per square mile (516.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.42% White, 0.54% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Akron PA

Picking the best 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 several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final 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 certain that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Akron PA.