Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Glassport PA 15045

How to Become an Electrician in Glassport Pennsylvania

Glassport PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Glassport PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to consider. For instance, some students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that should be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are offered.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Glassport PA

Glassport PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Glassport PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often 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 intend to earn certification. Following are brief descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Requirements

Glassport PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Glassport PA can carry out a vast array of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around four to five years of experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in many specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails 3 levels of proficiency:

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 vocational school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Glassport PA

attending electrician school online in Glassport PA An alternative that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more accommodating option for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Travelling expenses from Glassport PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available online also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Glassport PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Glassport PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be considered also. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Glassport PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get a quality education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program 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 low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory 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 affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Glassport PA graduates acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction 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 electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Glassport PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Glassport PA electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Glassport residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Glassport PA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Glassport PA?

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

Glassport, Pennsylvania

Glassport is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Pittsburgh and the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers where they form the Ohio River. Glassport lies along the east side of the Monongahela River in the "Mon valley", where many blue-collar municipalities have suffered severe economic decline in the wake of the loss of steel-making throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. In 1910, the population of Glassport was 5,540. By 1940, it had risen to 8,748, but has since declined to 4,483 as of the 2010 census.[1]

School tax millage rate- The South Allegheny SD (shared with three other municipalities) in 2017 was 17.24. This ranked 41st highest/most expensive out of Allegheny County's 45 school districts, between McKeesport SD (40th highest) and Chartiers Valley SD (42nd highest).[4]

Glassport is located at 40°19′37″N 79°53′19″W / 40.326919°N 79.888693°W / 40.326919; -79.888693Coordinates: 40°19′37″N 79°53′19″W / 40.326919°N 79.888693°W / 40.326919; -79.888693.[5]

The location could not be found.

Find the Right Electrician Vocational School near Glassport PA

Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom education should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps The ideal approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few 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 right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Glassport PA.