Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Rome PA 18837

How to Become an Electrician in Rome Pennsylvania

Rome PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Rome PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you approach making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to consider. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are accessible.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs near Rome PA

Rome PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Rome PA. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as common as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by the majority of states to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are short summaries of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who want to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve two years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.

As previously stated, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, the majority of students are anxious to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Guidelines

Rome PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Rome PA can perform a multitude of duties, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in most municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally about four to five years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered differ by state and can be earned in many specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases includes 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) as well as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Rome PA

attending electrician school online in Rome PA An option that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more popular as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning might be a more practical 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 counterparts. Commuting costs from Rome PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

Rome PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Once you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Considering that there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Rome PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first two that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your selection, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to analyze before enrolling in an electrical trade school.

Accreditation. Many electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn 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. Make sure that the Rome PA program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it 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 course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It could also suggest that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Rome PA graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of electrician technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or labor unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Rome PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Rome PA electrical company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Rome residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Rome PA, confirm that the programs you are reviewing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, 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 Rome PA?

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

Rome, Pennsylvania

Rome is located in northeastern Bradford County at 41°51′25″N 76°20′30″W / 41.85694°N 76.34167°W / 41.85694; -76.34167 (41.856855, -76.341558),[5] in the valley of Wysox Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River. It is surrounded by Rome Township but is separate from it.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 382 people, 157 households, and 103 families residing in the borough. The population density was 617.3 people per square mile (237.9/km²). There were 176 housing units at an average density of 284.4 per square mile (109.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.95% White, 0.52% Native American, 0.26% Asian, and 0.26% from two or more races.

There were 157 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Trade School near Rome PA

Selecting the right electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new career. 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 assessing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best serve your needs. Every program provides different possibilities for certification also. Probably the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Take the time to sit in on some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick 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 Rome PA.