Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Catawissa PA 17820

How to Become an Electrician in Catawissa Pennsylvania

Catawissa PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Catawissa PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located several that are within driving range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss 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 Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Catawissa PA

Catawissa PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Catawissa PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to join an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Requirements

Catawissa PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Catawissa PA can undertake a wide range of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required 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 examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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 trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Catawissa PA

attending electrician school online in Catawissa PA An option that you might have looked at is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Catawissa PA are also minimized and some of the study materials can be available online as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Catawissa PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Catawissa PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that must be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before 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 certain that the Catawissa PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can help in obtaining 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 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 low completion rate may signify that students were disappointed with the course and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher 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 employ 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Catawissa PA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Catawissa PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Catawissa PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Catawissa residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Catawissa PA, verify that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Catawissa PA?

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

Catawissa, Pennsylvania

Catawissa is twinned with Uxbridge, Ontario. The historic link began in 1805, when the Uxbridge area was granted by the British crown to Dr. Christopher Beswick, first medical doctor north of the Oak Ridges Moraine. While not a Quaker, he lived in Catawissa before moving to the Uxbridge area. Beswick Lane in the Ontario town is named after him.[4]

The area where Catawissa now is was originally owned by William Henry in 1769. Catawissa was laid out in 1787. At this time it was referred to as "Hughesburg" or "Catawissey". The lots of the town were distributed by lottery. When boats began to commonly travel along the Susquehanna River, Catawissa became locally important. Talk of a school in Catawissa began in 1796, and one was built there in 1800. The Catawissa Fire Company was founded in 1827. The Catawissa Deposit Bank was incorporated in 1871. The Catawissa Water Company was formed in 1882. A number of Masonic establishments were built in Catawissa in the mid to late 1800s.[5]

Catawissa is located in western Columbia County at 40°57′9″N 76°27′37″W / 40.95250°N 76.46028°W / 40.95250; -76.46028 (40.952458, -76.460393),[7] on the southeast side of the Susquehanna River. Catawissa Creek flows along the southern boundary of the borough into the Susquehanna. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.4 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 4.50%, is water.[3]

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Select the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Catawissa PA

Picking the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different options for certification also. Probably The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Catawissa PA.