Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Glenshaw PA 15116

How to Become an Electrician in Glenshaw Pennsylvania

Glenshaw PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Glenshaw PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of variables to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have found several that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that must be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training choices that are offered.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Glenshaw PA

Glenshaw PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Glenshaw PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. In many cases these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are short summaries of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to finish. They furnish 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 finish and are offered by Pennsylvania 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 earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Glenshaw PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Glenshaw PA can undertake a wide range of tasks, 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 typically about 4 to 5 years of experience is called for before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and can be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases entails three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Glenshaw PA

attending electrician school online in Glenshaw PA A possibility that you may have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online training programs are becoming more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require partial attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical alternative for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Glenshaw PA are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our questions to ask checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Glenshaw PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to narrow down your school options. Since there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Glenshaw PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. 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 crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Glenshaw PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it may assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the electrician training program 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 low completion rate could indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Glenshaw PA grads secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Glenshaw PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form 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 state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Glenshaw PA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Glenshaw residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger 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 teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Glenshaw PA, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Glenshaw PA?

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

Shaler Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Shaler Township is a township in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It consists of much of the community of Glenshaw and several neighboring communities. The population was 28,757 at the 2010 census.

Traders began settling in the Shaler area in the mid-18th century. The most prominent early trader in the area was George Croghan, who came in the early 1740s. By 1754, settlement included the Pine Creek trading post, where Europeans traded fur and skins with the Mingo and other Native Americans in the Ohio Valley. The second early European settlement was Girty's Run, established by Simon Girty.[3]

The village of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania—at the center of what became Shaler Township—was established in the early 19th century, beginning with a log sawmill built by John Shaw, Sr. after he bought 600 acres (2.4 km2) of land north of Pittsburgh in 1800. The area became known as "Shaw's Glen", and later Glenshaw. Members of the Shaw family subsequently built a log gristmill, a sickle factory, and a coal mine.[4]

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Glenshaw PA

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are considering includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Glenshaw PA.