Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Cranberry PA 16319

How to Become an Electrician in Cranberry Pennsylvania

Cranberry PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Cranberry PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to consider. For example, some students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their home. After they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Cranberry PA

Cranberry PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near Cranberry PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you intend to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Guidelines

Cranberry PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Cranberry PA can carry out a wide range of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves 3 levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Schools in Cranberry PA

attending electrician school online in Cranberry PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Driving costs from Cranberry PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Cranberry PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Cranberry PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must meet. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess prior to choosing an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Make certain that the Cranberry PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to qualify 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Cranberry PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Cranberry PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides 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 campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Cranberry PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Cranberry residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much individualized 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 witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure 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 at night or on weekends near Cranberry PA, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Cranberry PA?

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

Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

The location could not be found.

Pick the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Cranberry PA

Picking the best electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Cranberry PA.