Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Uniontown PA 15401

How to Become an Electrician in Uniontown Pennsylvania

Uniontown PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The first step to learning to be an electrical contractor or tradesman is finding an electrician trade school near Uniontown PA. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the best one? Especially because there are a number of factors to examine. For example, many prospective students will begin by searching for schools that are nearby their residence. When they have located a few that are within driving range, they will decide on the one with the least expensive tuition. Although location and cost are important, they are not the only factors that should be examined. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifications should help mold your ultimate decision when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the educational options that are available.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near Uniontown PA

Uniontown PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple ways to obtain electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Uniontown PA. You may select a diploma or certificate program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are offered at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three options. Often these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are required by the majority of states in order to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most typical programs offered.

Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by Pennsylvania trade and technical schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards students who wish to enter an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees involve 2 years to finish and are provided by Pennsylvania junior or community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They offer a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degrees 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 at least 2 years and in most cases four years be completed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are eager to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician License and Certification Criteria

Uniontown PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in Uniontown PA can perform a wide range of duties, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After finishing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The duration of apprenticeship differs by state, but usually around four to five years of prior experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams usually test electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also a voluntary means for an electrician to differentiate her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be earned in numerous specialties, such as cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails 3 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 imperative that the electrician tech school that you pick not only furnishes a strong academic foundation, but also helps prepare you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Uniontown PA

attending electrician school online in Uniontown PA An alternative that you may have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not entirely internet based. Pretty much all electrician training programs require partial attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, internet learning may be a more accommodating choice for students that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online degree programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Commuting costs from Uniontown PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be available on line also. Each of these advantages can make electrician online trade schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will address in our due diligence checklist.

What to Ask Electrician Training Schools

Uniontown PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to narrow down your training options. Because there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Uniontown PA region, it’s imperative to have a checklist of qualifications that each school must satisfy. The initial 2 that we discussed were location and tuition expense. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be taken into account also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze prior to selecting an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Make sure that the Uniontown PA school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the electrician training program be accredited for it to qualify 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 low completion rate may suggest that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also indicate that the instructors were not competent 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 more extensive list of alumni, which may produce 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Uniontown PA students acquire apprenticeships or employment.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician trade programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Uniontown PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the tools 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, check with the electrical specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Uniontown PA electrical company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your Uniontown home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Speak to some of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Uniontown PA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Uniontown PA?

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

Uniontown, Pennsylvania

Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, 46 miles (74 km) southeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Greater Pittsburgh Region. The population was 10,372 at the 2010 census,[3] down from 12,422 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and largest city of Fayette County.[4]

Popularly known as "Beesontown", the "town of Union" was founded by Henry Beeson on July 4, 1776, coincidentally the same date the United States Declaration of Independence was ratified.[5] The National Road, also known as the Cumberland Road, was routed through Uniontown in the early 19th century, and the town grew along with the road (now US 40). 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Uniontown is Fort Necessity, built by George Washington during the French and Indian War (part of the international Seven Years' War) as well as the site of the Battle of Jumonville Glen, where the North American branch of the war began.

Uniontown's role in the Underground Railroad in the antebellum years is commemorated by a marker on the corner of East Main Street and Baker Alley.[6] Residents helped slaves escaping from the South to freedom.

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near Uniontown PA

Selecting the right electrical training program will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new career. As we have addressed in this article, there are many things that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrician training that you are examining includes a considerable amount of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to provide a real-world context, and the curriculum should be current and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Every training program offers different possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Uniontown PA.