How to Become an Electrician in Dallastown Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Dallastown PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are so many variables to evaluate. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have found a few that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Dallastown PA
There are multiple options to get electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Dallastown PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other briefer programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Dallastown PA can undertake a multitude of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally around four to five years of experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician trade school that you enroll in not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Dallastown PA
A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs are becoming more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Dallastown PA are also lessened and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
Once you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your school options. Since there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Dallastown PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your determination, there are other variables that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Dallastown 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. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to instruct 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 list of alumni, 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 validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Dallastown PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together 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 businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Dallastown PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Dallastown PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Dallastown home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, 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 evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Dallastown PA, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Dallastown PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Dallastown PA area.
Dallastown, Pennsylvania
Dallastown was named after George M. Dallas of Philadelphia (Vice President of the United States during the Polk administration) during the presidential campaign of 1844. Dallastown was incorporated April 1866.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 4,087 people, 1,622 households, and 1,026 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,567.2 people per square mile (2,161.6/km²). There were 1,707 housing units at an average density of 2,325.2 per square mile (902.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.19% White, 0.78% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.
There were 1,622 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.
Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Dallastown PA
Picking the right electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best 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 sure that you are confident that the school you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Dallastown PA.
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