Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Latrobe PA 15650

How to Become an Electrician in Latrobe Pennsylvania

Latrobe PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Latrobe PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are so many variables to examine. For example, many potential students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Even though location and cost are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Latrobe PA

Latrobe PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Latrobe PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Often these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Following are brief summaries of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. Therefore, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Prerequisites

Latrobe PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Latrobe PA can undertake a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases includes 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in Latrobe PA

attending electrician school online in Latrobe PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is choosing an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning can be a more practical alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Commuting expenses from Latrobe PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Latrobe PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have made a decision to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Latrobe PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must satisfy. The first 2 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 critical when making your determination, there are additional factors that need to be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician vocational programs have acquired 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 relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Verify that the Latrobe 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 a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Also, 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 of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which can produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Latrobe PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Latrobe PA area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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 technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Latrobe PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Latrobe home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with some of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, speak with a few of the instructors 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 are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Latrobe PA, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Latrobe PA?

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

Latrobe, Pennsylvania

The city population was 8,338 as of the 2010 census (9,265 in 1990). It is located near Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999. The current Mayor is Rosemarie M. Wolford.

Among its claims to fame, Latrobe is the home of golfer Arnold Palmer, Saint Vincent Archabbey, the Latrobe Brewery (the original brewer of Rolling Rock beer), and Saint Vincent College. It was the childhood home of Fred Rogers, children's television personality who was buried there in Unity Cemetery after his death in 2003. While it was believed for years that the first professional American football game was played in Latrobe, the city's claim was refused induction into the Hall of Fame records.[3] Latrobe is home of the first banana split, invented in Latrobe by David Strickler in 1904.[4] Latrobe is also home to the training camp of the six time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

In May 2006, Anheuser-Busch purchased the Rolling Rock brands, but not the brewery. In June 2006, City Brewing Company from La Crosse, Wisconsin entered into negotiations to buy the brewery.[5] In September 2006, City Brewing Company agreed to purchase the brewery,[6] and they licensed it to the Boston Beer Company in April 2007 as a satellite brewery to produce Samuel Adams beers.[7] Sam Adams production did not last long. The plant is currently brewing Iron City Beer under contract. In addition, Duquesne Bottling Company has brewed the revived Duquesne Beer, "The Prince of Pilseners", at the Latrobe plant.

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Select the Right Electrician Tech School near Latrobe PA

Selecting the ideal electrical training program will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak 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 school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Latrobe PA.