Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Monessen PA 15062

How to Become an Electrician in Monessen Pennsylvania

Monessen PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Monessen PA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly since there are so many factors to consider. For instance, some students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. Once they have located several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Monessen PA

Monessen PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple approaches to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Monessen PA. You may enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the three most prevalent programs available.

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

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically four years be completed before licensing. Because of that, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites

Monessen PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Monessen PA can perform a wide range of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around four to five years of experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you select not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Online Programs in Monessen PA

attending electrician school online in Monessen PA An alternative that you may have looked at is choosing an electrician online program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more convenient option for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Travelling costs from Monessen PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be accessed online as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Monessen PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Since there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the Monessen PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Monessen PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you obtain an excellent education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training program be accredited in order to qualify 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It might also mean that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which can result in 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Monessen PA graduates secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with Monessen PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Monessen PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Monessen home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Monessen PA, check that the schools you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Monessen PA?

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

Monessen, Pennsylvania

Monessen is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,720 at the 2010 census. In 1940, 20,257 people lived there. In 1990 the population was 13,026. Monessen is the most southwestern municipality of Westmoreland County. Steel-making was a prominent industry in Monessen, which was a Rust Belt borough in the "Mon Valley" of southwestern Pennsylvania that became a third-class city in 1921. Monessen is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, as well as the Laurel Highlands.

Monessen, named for the Monongahela River and the industrial German city of Essen, was created by land speculators fairly late in the history of the Mon Valley, after neighboring towns had already been settled. The East Side Land Company bought land from various farmers, laid out the streets, and then sold the lots to prospective residents and employers. James M. Schoonmaker, who had made his fortune in coke, owned a controlling interest in the land company. Other investors in the land company who were also immortalized in street names include Philander C. Knox, James H. Reed, H. Sellers McKee, George O. Morgan, and George B. Motheral.[3] In May 1897, National Tin Plate Company, founded by William Donner, began building its mill, thus becoming Monessen’s first employer. Sales of lots began on July 27, 1897, for the general public and other employers.[3] Monessen became a borough on September 3, 1898.[4]

While there were many companies operating in Monessen, the largest employer was Pittsburgh Steel Company, later renamed Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. In a practice that is shocking by today’s standards (and not limited to Monessen), pay was determined by ethnic background. For example, a Welsh immigrant would be paid more than an Italian immigrant. A normal workweek was 84 hours (7 days times 12 hours).[5] Employers did not adopt the eight-hour workday until the 1920s.

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Pick the Right Electrician Technical School near Monessen PA

Choosing the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician tech school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to ascertain what length of program and certificate or degree will best satisfy your needs. Each training program offers different options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick is the best one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the end result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Monessen PA.