Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Allentown PA 18101

How to Become an Electrician in Allentown Pennsylvania

Allentown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Allentown PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many factors to consider. For example, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their residence. When they have located a few that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole 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 qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Allentown PA

Allentown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Allentown PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Allentown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Allentown PA can undertake a vast array of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining 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 acquired in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 levels of competency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Allentown PA

attending electrician school online in Allentown PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs have become more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Allentown PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available online as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Allentown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Allentown PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other factors that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Allentown PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you get a superior education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states require 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It may also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Allentown PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Allentown PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art 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 Allentown PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Allentown home. Take note 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 desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to some of the students and get their feedback regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Allentown PA, check 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, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Allentown PA?

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

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch: Allenschteddel) is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city and the 231st largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently the fastest growing city in all of Pennsylvania.[9] It is the largest city in the metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley, which had a population of 821,623 residents as of 2010[update]. Allentown constitutes a portion of the New York City Combined Statistical Area and is the county seat of Lehigh County.[10] In 2012, the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1762.[11]

Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities, in Northampton and Lehigh counties, that make up a region of eastern Pennsylvania known as the Lehigh Valley, the other two cities being Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Easton, Pennsylvania.[12] Allentown is 50 miles (80 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia, the sixth most populous[13] city in the United States, 90 miles (140 km) east-northeast of Harrisburg, the state capital, and 90 miles (140 km) west of New York City, the nation's largest city.

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad using former Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad main line trackage), runs through Allentown heading east across the Delaware River. The Norfolk Southern Railway's Reading Line runs through Allentown heading west to Reading, Pennsylvania.

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Select the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Allentown PA

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are considering includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Allentown PA.