Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Coplay PA 18037

How to Become an Electrician in Coplay Pennsylvania

Coplay PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Coplay PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For example, some potential students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their residence. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are significant, 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 job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will address that checklist in more 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 Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Coplay PA

Coplay PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Coplay PA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you want to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who would like to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Coplay PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Coplay PA can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be earned in various specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases 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 important that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Coplay PA

attending electrician school online in Coplay PA An option that you may have looked at is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical 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 education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from Coplay PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be available on line also. Each of these benefits can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Coplay PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Coplay PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Coplay PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at 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 may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Coplay PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Coplay PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Coplay PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Coplay residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Coplay PA, check that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Coplay PA?

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

Coplay, Pennsylvania

Coplay is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, six miles (10 km) northwest of Allentown. It is part of the Lehigh Valley region of the state. In 1900, 1,581 people lived in Coplay; in 1910, 2,670 people lived there. The population was 3,387 at the 2000 census. Coplay 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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (3.08%) is water. The Borough of Coplay is situated along the Lehigh River, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Allentown.

Coplay was part of the 400 acres (1.6 km2) of land John Jacob Schreiber bought from the William Penn heirs in 1740. For a long time it was known as Schreibers. Later it was known as the Lehigh Valley, because of the Lehigh Valley Iron Furnaces that were located here. Lehigh Valley was then changed to Coplay. This name came from "Kolapechka". The son of the Indian chief, Paxanosa, who lived at the head of the creek near Schnecksville. The Borough of Coplay seceded from Whitehall Township in 1869 and was incorporated as a borough on April 7, 1869.

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Find the Right Electrical Trade School near Coplay PA

Selecting the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Coplay PA.