How to Become an Electrician in Columbus Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Columbus PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their residence. Once they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should influence your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Options near Columbus PA
There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Columbus PA. You can choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Columbus PA can perform a multitude of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in several specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Columbus PA
An alternative that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning may be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Travelling costs from Columbus PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Columbus PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make sure that the Columbus 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. In addition to helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified 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 list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Columbus PA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Columbus PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Columbus PA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Columbus home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 at night or on weekends near Columbus PA, check that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out 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 Columbus PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Columbus PA area.
New Columbus, Pennsylvania
New Columbus was first settled in 1819. It was later incorporated as a borough in 1859. The community has not changed much since its founding; farming is still a major way of life for most of the borough.
It is a small farming town located in western Luzerne County (just south of Ricketts Glen State Park). There are small clusters of houses scattered throughout the borough; most of the community consists of farmland. Downtown New Columbus, which consists of a few homes and businesses, is located at the intersection of Old Tioga Turnpike and Academy Street. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.1 square miles (7.9 km2), all of it land.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 215 people, 86 households, and 63 families residing in the borough. The population density was 68.1 people per square mile (26.3/km2). There were 96 housing units at an average density of 30.4 per square mile (11.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.
Pick the Ideal Electrician Tech School near Columbus PA
Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Columbus PA.
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