How to Become an Electrician in New Bethlehem Pennsylvania
The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near New Bethlehem PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to consider. For instance, many potential students will begin by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have identified a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are important, they are not the sole factors that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your final judgment when picking an electrician trade school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near New Bethlehem PA
There are multiple options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near New Bethlehem PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. In many cases these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you wish to earn certification. Bellow are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They furnish a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician License and Certification Requirements
Electricians in New Bethlehem PA can undertake a multitude of services, 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 required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams commonly evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be acquired in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician trade school that you choose not only provides a solid educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Training Classes in New Bethlehem PA
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require some attendance on-campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for students that have minimal time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Driving expenses from New Bethlehem PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be available on line also. All of these advantages can make online electrician tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
What to Ask Electrician Training Schools
When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Because there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the New Bethlehem PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be considered as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to assess before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example electrical technology. Confirm that the New Bethlehem PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, 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 training programs you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It may also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ 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 industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist New Bethlehem PA students acquire apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician contractors or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with New Bethlehem PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. 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. Otherwise, ask a local New Bethlehem PA electrical contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your New Bethlehem residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees 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 larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with several of the students and get their feedback relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near New Bethlehem PA, verify that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near New Bethlehem PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the New Bethlehem PA area.
New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
New Bethlehem is located along the southern border of Clarion County at 41°0′12″N 79°19′51″W / 41.00333°N 79.33083°W / 41.00333; -79.33083 (41.003302, -79.330935).[6] It is in the valley of Redbank Creek, which separates the borough from South Bethlehem, Armstrong County to the south.
Pennsylvania Route 28 passes through the borough, crossing Redbank Creek into South Bethlehem, then leading southwest 20 miles (32 km) to Kittanning on the Allegheny River. To the northeast, PA 28 leads 20 miles (32 km) to Brookville and Interstate 80. Pennsylvania Route 66 intersects PA 28 in the center of New Bethlehem and leads north 13 miles (21 km) to I-80 and 16 miles (26 km) to Clarion, the county seat. PA 66 travels with PA 28 southwest to Kittanning. Pennsylvania Route 861 leads west from New Bethlehem 12 miles (19 km) to Rimersburg.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough of New Bethlehem has a total area of 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2), of which 0.46 square miles (1.2 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 9.92%, is water.[5]
Find the Ideal Electrical Technical School near New Bethlehem PA
Choosing the right electrician training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are many factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the type of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every program offers unique options for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to sit in on some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and dedication, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in New Bethlehem PA.
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