Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Canonsburg PA 15317

How to Become an Electrician in Canonsburg Pennsylvania

Canonsburg PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Canonsburg PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are a number of points to examine. For instance, many students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Options near Canonsburg PA

Canonsburg PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Canonsburg PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take 2 years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Canonsburg PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Canonsburg PA can perform a multitude of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Canonsburg PA

attending electrician school online in Canonsburg PA An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Canonsburg PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Canonsburg PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Canonsburg PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 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 final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have received 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 example electrical technology. Confirm that the Canonsburg PA 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 receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Canonsburg PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Canonsburg PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Canonsburg PA electrical contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Canonsburg home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Canonsburg PA, verify that the schools you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Canonsburg PA?

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

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802. The population was 8,992 at the 2010 census.

The town is in a rich coal district, and most of the town's work force once worked in local steel mills or coal mines. Interstate 79 and U.S. Route 19 pass through the town, as does the Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad. A trolley used to operate from Washington, Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh through the borough until 1953.

The town is home to Sarris Candies and is adjacent to the Southpointe office park located in Cecil Township, which has a number of large corporate tenants. Yenko Chevrolet, one of largest and most notorious custom muscle car shops of the late 1960s and early 1970s, was also located in Canonsburg. Canonsburg is home to the Pittsburgh Cougars junior hockey league team.

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Pick the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Canonsburg PA

Picking the best electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on 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 right training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Canonsburg PA.