Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Slatington PA 18080

How to Become an Electrician in Slatington Pennsylvania

Slatington PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to becoming an electrical contractor or tradesman is locating an electrician trade school near Slatington PA. But with so many technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many points to examine. For example, many students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have located some that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the sole factors that must be evaluated. Also important are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician school. We will address that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the instructional options that are available.

Electrician Degree, Certificate and Diploma Options near Slatington PA

Slatington PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general options to receive electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Slatington PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are available at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are offered together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you intend to earn certification. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most prevalent programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards those who wish to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to finish and are offered 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 earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at some Pennsylvania colleges, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Slatington PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Slatington PA can perform a multitude of tasks, such as testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in buildings and homes comply with code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to be licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but generally around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary method for an electrician to differentiate him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and can be earned in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves three 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) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician tech school that you enroll in not only provides a strong academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may need to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Programs Online in Slatington PA

attending electrician school online in Slatington PA An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this situation they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, distance learning may be a more accommodating option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting expenses from Slatington PA are also reduced and a portion of the study materials may be available on line as well. All of these advantages can make online electrician trade 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

Slatington PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Slatington PA area, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we talked about were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an online degree, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other variables that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to assess prior to enrolling in an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Slatington PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire an excellent education, it can assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited programs. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also suggest that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Slatington PA graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Slatington PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the regional electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the equipment 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 technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Slatington PA electrical company if they can provide some tips. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Slatington residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to some of the teachers and find out what their level of expertise is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Slatington PA, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Slatington PA?

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

Slatington, Pennsylvania

Slatington is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is located 20 miles north of Bethlehem, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is 62 miles south of Scranton, and 70 miles north of Philadelphia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (4.35%) is water.

Slatington's elevation is 738 feet above sea level. Slatington's elevation varies from 330 feet at the Lehigh River on the east side of town to 750 feet by the Union Cemetery on Route 873 to the south.

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Pick the Right Electrician Vocational School near Slatington PA

Picking the ideal electrician training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to start your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of things that you will need to assess and compare between the training programs you are considering. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should offer a real-world context, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Programs vary in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you choose is the right one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Slatington PA.