Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Meadville PA 16335

How to Become an Electrician in Meadville Pennsylvania

Meadville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Meadville PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the best one? Especially since there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, some students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located some that are within commuting range, they will decide on the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole qualifications that need to be considered. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are accessible.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Meadville PA

Meadville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Meadville PA. You can select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most common programs available.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to get into an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs take two years to finish and are offered by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria

Meadville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Meadville PA can carry out a wide range of tasks, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically around four to five years of practical experience is called for before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available vary by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you might need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Meadville PA

attending electrician school online in Meadville PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating option for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting expenses from Meadville PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. Each of these benefits can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Questions to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Meadville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Meadville PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make certain that the Meadville PA program is 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 receive a superior education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It could also suggest that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Meadville PA grads acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Meadville PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date 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 expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Meadville PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Meadville residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience 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 fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Meadville PA, check that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Meadville PA?

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

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States.[5] The city is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania and within 90 miles of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania. The population was 13,388 at the 2010 census.[6] The city of Meadville is the principal city of the Meadville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. As well as one of two cities, the other being Erie, that make up the larger Erie-Meadville, PA Combined Statistical Area.

Meadville was settled on May 12, 1788, by a party of settlers led by David Mead. Its location was chosen well, for it lies at the confluence of Cussewago Creek and French Creek, and was only a day's travel by boat to the safety of Fort Franklin.

The neighboring Iroquois and Lenape befriended the isolated settlement, but their enemies, including the Wyandots, were not so amiable. The threat of their attacks caused the settlement to be evacuated for a time in 1791.

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Find the Right Electrician Tech School near Meadville PA

Selecting the ideal electrician trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a necessity that any electrical training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the type of credential offered, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Meadville PA.