Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Monroeville PA 15146

How to Become an Electrician in Monroeville Pennsylvania

Monroeville PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Monroeville PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially since there are a number of points to evaluate. For instance, some prospective students will start by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have identified a few that are within driving range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Monroeville PA

Monroeville PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to obtain electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Monroeville PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to be licensed or if you wish to earn certification. 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 require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically four years be completed prior to licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites

Monroeville PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Monroeville PA can carry out a vast array of functions, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required 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 a voluntary means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and can be earned in several specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves three levels of competency:

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 important that the electrician vocational school that you select not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to take in the future.

Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in Monroeville PA

attending electrician school online in Monroeville PA An option that you might have contemplated is choosing an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. While online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more practical choice 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. Travelling costs from Monroeville PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Monroeville PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Monroeville PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two 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 although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional factors that must be considered as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before selecting an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Confirm that the Monroeville PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you acquire a superior education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, 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 schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified 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 broader list of graduates, 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 affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Monroeville PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Monroeville PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Monroeville PA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your Monroeville home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Monroeville PA, verify that the schools you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Monroeville PA?

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

Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Monroeville is a city with home rule status in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located about 10 miles east of Pittsburgh, Monroeville is a suburb with mixed residential and commercial developments. As of the 2010 census, Monroeville was home to 28,386 people.[3]

Named for Joel Monroe, the area's first postmaster, Monroeville was settled in the mid to late 18th century. The area was incorporated as Patton Township in 1849 before becoming the borough of Monroeville on January 25, 1951.[4] Monroeville became a Home Rule Charter Municipality on May 21, 1974.[5]

Monroeville has nine borders, including Plum to the north, Murrysville in Westmoreland County to the east, Penn Township in Westmoreland County to the southeast, Trafford in Westmoreland County to the south, North Versailles, Wilmerding and Turtle Creek to the southwest, Wilkins Township to the west, and Penn Hills to the northwest. Also, the borough of Pitcairn is entirely situated inside Monroeville in the south-southwest area.

The location could not be found.

Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Monroeville PA

Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each training program offers unique options for certification as well. Probably The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few 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 proper training, effort and dedication, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Monroeville PA.