How to Become an Electrician in Custer City Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Custer City PA. But with so many vocational schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, many students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their home. After they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when selecting an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Custer City PA
There are three general approaches to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Custer City PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Custer City PA can carry out a multitude of functions, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes in Custer City PA
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more accepted as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not entirely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Commuting costs from Custer City PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make online electrician trade schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Custer City PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications 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 although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Custer City PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Custer City PA grads secure apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Custer City PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Custer City PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Custer City residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger 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 students and teachers. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
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 go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Custer City PA, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Custer City PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Custer City PA area.
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839 – June 25, 1876) was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1857, where he graduated last in his class in 1861. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Custer was called to serve with the Union Army.
Custer developed a strong reputation during the Civil War. He participated in the first major engagement, the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, near Washington, D.C. His association with several important officers helped his career as did his success as a highly effective cavalry commander. Custer was brevetted to brigadier general at age 23, less than a week before the Battle of Gettysburg, where he personally led cavalry charges that prevented Confederate cavalry from attacking the Union rear in support of Pickett's Charge. He was wounded in the Battle of Culpeper Court House in Virginia on September 13, 1863. In 1864, Custer was awarded another star and brevetted to major general rank. At the conclusion of the Appomattox Campaign, in which he and his troops played a decisive role, Custer was present at General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, on April 9, 1865.
After the Civil War, Custer remained a major general in the United States Volunteers until they were mustered out in February 1866. He reverted to his permanent rank of captain and was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the 7th Cavalry Regiment in July 1866. He was dispatched to the west in 1867 to fight in the American Indian Wars. On June 25, 1876, while leading the 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana Territory against a coalition of Native American tribes, he and all of his detachment—which included two of his brothers—were killed. The battle is popularly known in American history as "Custer's Last Stand."
Select the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Custer City PA
Picking the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to go to 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 decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Custer City PA.
Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 22
1 Reviews 