Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Harmony PA 16037

How to Become an Electrician in Harmony Pennsylvania

Harmony PA electrician inspecting circuit panelThe initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Harmony PA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are a number of variables to consider. For example, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have found several that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that should be examined. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Harmony PA

Harmony PA electrician re-wiring power outletThere are several options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Harmony PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most prevalent programs offered.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take approximately a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
  • Associate Degrees take two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Harmony PA electricians working on power linesElectricians in Harmony PA can undertake a multitude of services, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally around four to five years of practical experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams commonly assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be acquired in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes 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 important that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Harmony PA

attending electrician school online in Harmony PAAn option that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation 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, distance learning may be a more practical alternative for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online degree programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus counterparts. Driving expenses from Harmony PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Harmony PA electrician re-wiring circuit panelNow that you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Harmony PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you are interested in earning an degree online, 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 other factors that need to be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.

Accreditation.  A large number of electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Harmony PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates.  Ask the electrician schools you are considering 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 could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also 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 mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help Harmony PA grads acquire apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most electrician vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical 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 comparing have referring relationships with Harmony PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools 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 technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Harmony PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Harmony home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition fees 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 sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Harmony PA, confirm that the programs you are looking at provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Harmony PA?

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

Harmony, Pennsylvania

Interstate 79 passes just east of the borough, with access from exits 87 and 88. Via I-79 it is 30 miles (48 km) south to downtown Pittsburgh and 99 miles (159 km) north to Erie. Pennsylvania Route 68 passes through the borough just south of the downtown and leads west into Zelienople and east 17 miles (27 km) to Butler, the county seat.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 937 people, 409 households, and 267 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,468.0 people per square mile (952.0/km²). There were 434 housing units at an average density of 1,143.1 per square mile (441.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.15% White, 0.53% African American, 0.21% Native American, and 0.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 409 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.82.

The location could not be found.

Find the Right Electrical Vocational School near Harmony PA

Picking the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to offer a real-world context, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Every training program provides different possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Harmony PA.

Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania

  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Hellertown PA 18055
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Bedford PA 15522
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Morrisville PA 19067
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Blue Bell PA 19422
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Newville PA 17241
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Villanova PA 19085
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Gilbertsville PA 19525
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Devon PA 19333
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Loysburg PA 16659
  • Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Imperial PA 15126
  •  

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 51

    Jason the Electrician
    4 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    315 Ashbury Ln, Cranberry Township, PA 16066

    Dilts Enterprises
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    108 Townhill Dr, Zelienople, PA 16063

    Blackhawk Neff
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    Beaver Falls, PA 15010

    Turney Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    1048 24th Street Ext, Beaver Falls, PA 15010

    Heastings Electric
    6 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    4957 S Pioneer Rd, Gibsonia, PA 15044

    Kerr Electric LLC
    2 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    200 N Main St, Butler, PA 16057

    Northern Electrical LLC
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    82 Warrendale Bayne Rd, Warrendale, PA 15086

    Blackhawk Neff
    1 Reviews
    Contractors, Electricians
    Phone:
    805 Northgate Cir, New Castle, PA 16105

    Right Electric
    1 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    317 Meridian Rd, Butler, PA 16001

    King Electric Service
    4 Reviews
    Electricians
    Phone:
    5300 Perrysville Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15229