How to Become an Electrician in South Mountain Pennsylvania
The initial step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near South Mountain PA. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of factors to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are close to their home. When they have found a few that are within driving distance, they will select the one with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant, they are not the only things that must be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, in addition to their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifications should contribute toward your final judgment when choosing an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about becoming an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near South Mountain PA
There are multiple ways to obtain electrician training in a trade or technical school near South Mountain PA. You may choose a diploma or certificate program, or receive an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at a few schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to earn certification. Bellow are brief summaries of the three most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are generally provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to finish. They provide a good foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while providing the foundation that readies students to join their apprenticeship program.
As earlier mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are accessible at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and more typically 4 years be carried out before licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not a component of their educational program.
Electrician Certification and Licensing Prerequisites
Electricians in South Mountain PA can perform a wide range of tasks, such as 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 most municipalities and states. The length of apprenticeship differs by state, but typically around four to five years of prior experience is needed 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 identify her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in various specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually includes 3 levels of competency:
- An experience requirement
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a practical exam
Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s crucial that the electrician vocational school that you choose not only delivers a solid educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might be required to take in the future.
Attending Electrician Training Classes Online in South Mountain PA
An alternative that you may have looked at is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a certificate or degree. While online schools are becoming more prevalent 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 get hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes can be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical option for individuals that have limited time for education. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their on campus counterparts. Commuting costs from South Mountain PA are also minimized and a portion of the study materials can be available on line as well. All of these benefits can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools
Now that you have decided to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can start to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician tech and trade schools in the South Mountain PA area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial 2 that we mentioned were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be critical when making your selection, there are other variables that must be taken into account as well. Following is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before choosing an electrical tech school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make certain that the South Mountain PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train the students. It’s also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, 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 validate that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist South Mountain PA students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working partnerships with South Mountain PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus 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 already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local South Mountain PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your South Mountain residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near South Mountain PA, confirm that the schools you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out 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 South Mountain PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the South Mountain PA area.
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown (Pennsylvania Dutch: Allenschteddel) is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city and the 231st largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently the fastest growing city in all of Pennsylvania.[10] It is the largest city in the metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley, which had a population of 821,623 residents as of 2010[update]. Allentown constitutes a portion of the New York City Combined Statistical Area and is the county seat of Lehigh County.[11] In 2012, the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1762.[12]
Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown is the largest of three adjacent cities, in Northampton and Lehigh counties, that make up a region of eastern Pennsylvania known as the Lehigh Valley. Allentown is 50 miles (80 km) north-northwest of Philadelphia, the sixth most populous[8] city in the United States, 90 miles (140 km) east-northeast of Harrisburg, the state capital, and 90 miles (140 km) west of New York City, the nation's largest city.
The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad using former Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad main line trackage), runs through Allentown heading east across the Delaware River. The Norfolk Southern Railway's Reading Line runs through Allentown heading west to Reading, Pennsylvania.
Find the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near South Mountain PA
Choosing the right electrician trade school will probably 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 examine and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any electrical tech school that you are reviewing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world frame of reference, and the training program should be current and in-line with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best satisfy your needs. Every program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal means to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the faculty and students. Take the time to sit in on a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in South Mountain PA.
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