Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Slippery Rock PA 16057

How to Become an Electrician in Slippery Rock Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Slippery Rock PA. But with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly since there are so many variables to examine. For instance, some prospective students will commence by looking for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found some that are within commuting range, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. Although cost and location are of importance, they are not the only factors that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when selecting an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the training options that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Slippery Rock PA

Slippery Rock PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are several options to get electrician training in a vocational or trade school near Slippery Rock PA. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by most states in order to become licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short explanations of the three most common programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to begin their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. Because of that, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their educational program.

Electrician Licensing and Certification Guidelines

Slippery Rock PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Slippery Rock PA can undertake a vast array of tasks, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but commonly around 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams typically test electrical theory and general knowledge, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be acquired in various specializations, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually involves 3 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 vocational school that you pick not only furnishes a solid educational foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Programs Online in Slippery Rock PA

attending electrician school online in Slippery Rock PA A possibility that you might have contemplated is selecting an online electrician school to earn a certificate or degree. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this situation they are not totally internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning might be a more convenient alternative for individuals that have minimal time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus alternatives. Commuting costs from Slippery Rock PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available online also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more economical and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Vocational Schools

Slippery Rock PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to refine your school options. Considering that there are numerous electrician vocational and trade schools in the Slippery Rock PA region, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an online degree, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are additional factors that must be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical vocational school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can 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 Slippery Rock PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you obtain a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require 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 reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also signify that the instructors were not qualified to instruct 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 may result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only confirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist Slippery Rock PA students secure apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician vocational 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 companies or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Slippery Rock PA area electricians or electrical specialists. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Slippery Rock PA electrical contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Slippery Rock residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with some of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Slippery Rock PA, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Slippery Rock PA?

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

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock is a borough in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,625 at the 2010 census.[4] It is home to the Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Slippery Rock is included in the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Slippery Rock is located in northwest Butler County at 41°3′49″N 80°3′18″W / 41.06361°N 80.05500°W / 41.06361; -80.05500 (41.063746, -80.055007).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km2), all of it land.[4]Slippery Rock Creek, the borough's namesake, runs through a valley 2 miles (3 km) south of the borough.

Since the 1960s Slippery Rock has been well served by the Interstate Highway system as Interstate 79 (north-south) and Interstate 80 (east-west) cross 12 miles (19 km) to the north. The closest access to I-79 is 4 miles (6 km) to the west on Pennsylvania Route 108. PA 258 (N. Main Street) leads northwest 7.7 miles (12.4 km) to I-79.

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Choose the Right Electrician Vocational School near Slippery Rock PA

Picking the right electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are several things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrical training program that you are reviewing includes a good deal of hands-on instruction. Classes should 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 current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to determine what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every program provides unique possibilities for certification also. Probably the best means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some time to attend some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you pick is the right one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Slippery Rock PA.