Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Selinsgrove PA 17870

How to Become an Electrician in Selinsgrove Pennsylvania

Selinsgrove PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is finding an electrician trade school near Selinsgrove PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have identified several that are within commuting range, they will choose the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your final decision when picking an electrician trade school. We will address that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional choices that are offered.

Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Selinsgrove PA

Selinsgrove PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to get electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Selinsgrove PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three alternatives. Often these programs are offered combined with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Following are short summaries of the three most prevalent programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards those who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, typically as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states mandate that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be completed before licensing. Therefore, many students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements

Selinsgrove PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Selinsgrove PA can carry out a wide range of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to be licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually about four to five years of experience is called for in order to take the licensing exam. The exams typically test general knowledge and electrical theory, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process in most cases entails three levels of competency:

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 crucial that the electrician trade school that you pick not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to take in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online in Selinsgrove PA

attending electrician school online in Selinsgrove PA An option that you might have considered is choosing an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician schools require partial attendance on-campus to receive hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning can be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Selinsgrove PA are also minimized and some of the study materials may be accessed online also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more economical and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will discuss in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Trade Schools

Selinsgrove PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to narrow down your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Selinsgrove PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of qualifications that each program 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 chosen school offers. And although 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 additional qualifications that you will need to assess before enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the Selinsgrove PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a quality education, it may help in securing financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, 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 schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were unhappy with the course and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Selinsgrove PA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational 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 reviewing have working partnerships with Selinsgrove PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Selinsgrove PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Selinsgrove home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized instruction 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. Speak to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with some of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Selinsgrove PA, verify that the schools you are considering provide those options. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Selinsgrove PA?

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

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Selinsgrove is geographically located in the middle of the Susquehanna River Valley in Central Pennsylvania, along U.S. Routes 11 and 15, 36.4 miles (58.6 km) north of Harrisburg and 5.7 miles (9.2 km) southwest of Sunbury. It is the home of Susquehanna University.

The Penns Creek Massacre on October 16, 1755, was the first Indian hostility event in the region after General Braddock's defeat in the Seven Year War.[6] A marker on the bank of Penns Creek north of Selinsgrove commemorates the massacre of 14 settlers and the capture of 11 more. In response to this and other Indian actions that day, Fort Augusta, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, the largest of Pennsylvania's frontier forts, was built in 1756 as a result of this conflict.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2). Selinsgrove borders the Susquehanna River. The portion of the borough that is located between Penns Creek and the Susquehanna River is known locally as the "Isle of Que" (pronounced queue).

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Choose the Ideal Electrical Trade School near Selinsgrove PA

Choosing the ideal electrical trade school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world perspective, and the course of study should be current and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best fulfill your needs. Each program provides different options for certification also. Probably the best way to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Selinsgrove PA.