Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Commodore PA 15729

How to Become an Electrician in Commodore Pennsylvania

Commodore PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Commodore PA. But with so many technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are so many factors to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located some that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final decision when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Commodore PA

Commodore PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Commodore PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Commodore PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Commodore PA can perform a vast array of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 3 levels of proficiency:

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 vocational school that you enroll in not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Commodore PA

attending electrician school online in Commodore PA An alternative that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Commodore PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make electrician online tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Commodore PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Commodore PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research before choosing an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Commodore PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, 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 considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Commodore PA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

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

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Commodore PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Commodore residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Commodore PA, check that the programs you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Commodore PA?

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

Commodore, Pennsylvania

Commodore was founded in 1919 by the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York Central Railroad. It was named in honor of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, founder of that railroad. (Vanderbilt was known by the nickname or unofficial rank of Commodore due to his background as a riverboat owner.)

The town was created as a "model town", with a higher caliber of worker housing than other coal mining communities. Houses were constructed of concrete block, not wood. Also, the houses had toilets and the community had a sewer system, which were unusual in comparison to neighboring mining communities.[2]

Streets were named after executives of the coal company: F.E. Herriman (President), John Fisher (Vice President), H.B. Douglas (Assistant to the President), A.J. Musser (General Manager), and H.J. Hinterleitner (General Superintendent). The town and its initial buildings were designed by Paul Gill, an engineer of the coal company.[3]

The location could not be found.

Select the Right Electrical Tech School near Commodore PA

Selecting the best electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Commodore PA.