Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Coopersburg PA 18036

How to Become an Electrician in Coopersburg Pennsylvania

Coopersburg PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Coopersburg PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of points to examine. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the only things that must be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Coopersburg PA

Coopersburg PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a trade or technical school near Coopersburg PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who wish to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Coopersburg PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Coopersburg PA can carry out a vast array of duties, 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 states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually evaluate general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 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 important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Coopersburg PA

attending electrician school online in Coopersburg PA A possibility that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical option for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Commuting expenses from Coopersburg PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Coopersburg PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Coopersburg PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Coopersburg PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are considering 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 quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have higher 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Coopersburg PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Coopersburg PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Coopersburg PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Coopersburg home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on 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 comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Coopersburg PA, verify that the schools you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Coopersburg PA?

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

Coopersburg, Pennsylvania

Coopersburg is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Allentown in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is 40 miles north of Philadelphia, 7 miles south of Allentown, and 76 miles west of New York City. Lehigh County is included in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the New York City-Newark, New Jersey, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 2,386 people residing in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.7% White, 0.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,582 people, 983 households, and 671 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,780.7 people per square mile (1,072.0/km²). There were 1,050 housing units at an average density of 1,130.8 per square mile (435.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.01% White, 0.70% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.

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Pick the Ideal Electrical Tech School near Coopersburg PA

Picking the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Coopersburg PA.