How to Become an Electrician in Reynoldsville Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Reynoldsville PA. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Especially since there are so many variables to evaluate. For example, some potential students will begin by looking for schools that are close to their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are of importance, they are not the sole things that need to be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will discuss that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.
Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Reynoldsville PA
There are multiple approaches to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Reynoldsville PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three options. Often these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states to become licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good 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 complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They furnish a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less preferred at four years than the other briefer programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines
Electricians in Reynoldsville PA can perform a wide range of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of practical experience is required in order to take the licensing examination. 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 identify her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be obtained in numerous specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases 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 select not only delivers a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any certification and licensing examinations that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Schools in Reynoldsville PA
A possibility that you might have considered is selecting an online electrician 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 instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the remainder of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional counterparts. Driving costs from Reynoldsville PA are also lessened and a portion of the study materials may be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Questions to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools
Once you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Reynoldsville PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that must be a feature that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your decision, there are additional variables that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical trade school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Reynoldsville PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 finish the course. A low completion rate may signify that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It might also indicate 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 broader directory 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 can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Reynoldsville PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Reynoldsville PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools 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, check with the electrical specialist you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Reynoldsville PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your Reynoldsville residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers 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 schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Reynoldsville PA, check that the schools you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, 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 Reynoldsville PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Reynoldsville PA area.
Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania
Reynoldsville is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, 102 miles (164 km) northeast of Pittsburgh, in a productive soft coal region. In the past, it had silk mills, brick and tile works, a tannery, a macaroni factory, and an asbestos plant to provide employment. In 1900, the population stood at 3,435 people; and in 1910, 3,189. Reynoldsville was greatly enlarged in 1913 when it annexed West Reynoldsville (population 993 in 1910) and three large adjacent areas. The population was 2,710 at the 2000 census.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 2,710 people, 1,117 households, and 741 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,874.2 people per square mile (721.6/km²). There were 1,233 housing units at an average density of 852.7 per square mile (328.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.86% White, 0.15% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.
There were 1,117 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.
Enroll in the Right Electrical Technical School near Reynoldsville PA
Choosing the right electrical trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare among the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are assessing includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and every student should have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program provides different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you decide on is the right one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Reynoldsville PA.
Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 