Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Lewistown PA 17044

How to Become an Electrician in Lewistown Pennsylvania

Lewistown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Lewistown PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Especially because there are so many variables to consider. For example, many prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have found some that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Lewistown PA

Lewistown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to receive electrician training in a technical or vocational school near Lewistown PA. You may select a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards individuals who would like to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania 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 enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed prior to licensing. Therefore, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Lewistown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Lewistown PA can perform a vast array of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about four to five years of prior experience is required in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be acquired in several specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Schools in Lewistown PA

attending electrician school online in Lewistown PA A possibility that you may have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on-campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from Lewistown PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Things to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Lewistown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Because there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Lewistown PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The first two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest 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 critical when making your selection, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the Lewistown PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, a number of states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also mean 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 list of alumni, which can result in more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Lewistown PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Lewistown PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure 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 on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lewistown PA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Lewistown residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak with a few of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Lewistown PA, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Lewistown PA?

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

Lewistown, Pennsylvania

Lewistown is a borough in the county seat of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States.[3] It is the principal city of the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Mifflin County.[4] It lies along the Juniata River, 61 miles (98 km) northwest of Harrisburg. The number of people living in the borough in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; in 1940, 13,017; and in 2000, 8,998. The population was 8,338 at the 2010 census. Of the four communities in the United States named "Lewistown", this borough is the largest.

The borough was incorporated in 1795 and was named for William "Bill" Lewis, a Quaker and a member of the legislature, who was responsible for the designation of the borough, which was then known as the Village of Ohesson, as the county seat of Mifflin County.

Early roads crisscrossed the region, but it was the eventual construction of the Pennsylvania Canal and the railroads that followed that truly positioned Mifflin County as an economic force in the state.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Technical School near Lewistown PA

Choosing the best electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are considering. It’s a must that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best approach to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Lewistown PA.