How to Become an Electrician in Oak Ridge Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Oak Ridge PA. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of points to consider. For instance, some prospective students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. After they have located some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that need to be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your final judgment when picking an electrician training school. We will talk about 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 available.
Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs near Oak Ridge PA
There are three general approaches to obtain electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Oak Ridge PA. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three options. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most typical programs available.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards those who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees involve two years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other briefer programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Prerequisites
Electricians in Oak Ridge PA can perform a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around 4 to 5 years of practical experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess 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 available differ by state and can be obtained in various specializations, 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you pick not only furnishes a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may need to pass in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in Oak Ridge PA
An option that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. While online schools are becoming more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to obtain practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be attended online, distance learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Travelling expenses from Oak Ridge PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be accessed online as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Trade Schools
When you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Oak Ridge PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Confirm that the Oak Ridge PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it can help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, many states mandate that the electrician training program 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 of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and quit. It might also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to train 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 may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 Oak Ridge PA grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are comparing have referring relationships with Oak Ridge 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 build relationships in the regional electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Oak Ridge PA electrical contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Oak Ridge home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging 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 instructors and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Oak Ridge PA, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Oak Ridge PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Oak Ridge PA area.
Oak Ridge, Pennsylvania
Pick the Right Electrician Tech School near Oak Ridge PA
Selecting the ideal electrical trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered 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 must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Each program provides different 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. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new trade as a professional electrician in Oak Ridge PA.
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