Find Electrician Schools Near Me in University Park PA 16802

How to Become an Electrician in University Park Pennsylvania

University Park PA electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near University Park PA. But with so many technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the right one? Particularly since there are a number of points to examine. For example, many students will start by searching for schools that are nearby their home. When they have found several that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the most affordable tuition. Even though cost and location are important, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, in addition to their graduation and job placement rates. These and other qualifiers should help mold your ultimate decision when choosing an electrician school. We will talk about that checklist in more detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the educational choices that are accessible.

Electrician Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs near University Park PA

University Park PA electrician re-wiring power outlet There are multiple options to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near University Park PA. You may choose 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 options. In many cases these programs are made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by the majority of states to be licensed or if you would like to become certified. Bellow are brief explanations of the three most typical programs available.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania technical and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are geared towards individuals who would like to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degree Programs involve two years to complete and are offered by Pennsylvania community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more comprehensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at certain Pennsylvania colleges, but are less preferred at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases 4 years be performed prior to licensing. Because of that, many students are anxious to begin their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not a component of their educational program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

University Park PA electricians working on power lines Electricians in University Park PA can perform a vast array of services, such as installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in buildings and homes are up to code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The length of apprenticeship varies by state, but usually around 4 to 5 years of experience is needed in order to take the licensing examination. The exams typically assess electrical theory and general knowledge, in addition to knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional method for an electrician to distinguish him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually entails 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) and also the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s imperative that the electrician vocational school that you select not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Enrolling in Electrician Online Programs in University Park PA

attending electrician school online in University Park PA An alternative that you may have considered is choosing an online electrician program to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning may be a more practical choice for students that have minimal time for schooling. And as a bonus many online schools have a cheaper tuition cost compared to their traditional competitors. Commuting expenses from University Park PA are also reduced and some of the study materials can be accessed on line as well. All of these advantages can make electrician online tech schools more affordable and convenient. And a number are fully accredited, which we will address in our questions to ask checklist.

Topics to Ask Electrician Technical Schools

University Park PA electrician re-wiring circuit panel Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Because there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the University Park PA region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must meet. The first 2 that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be critical when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifiers that you will need to research before enrolling in an electrical technical school.

Accreditation. A large number of electrician vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance electrical technology. Verify that the University Park PA school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states mandate that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician training programs you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate might signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It might also suggest that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative 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 use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help University Park PA students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician companies or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with University Park PA area electricians or electrical professionals. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed 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, consult with the electrical technician you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local University Park PA electrical contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your University Park home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there might be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized instruction 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 witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is and what certifications or degrees they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Confirm 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 University Park PA, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out 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 University Park PA?

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

University Park, Pennsylvania

University Park is the name given to the Pennsylvania State University's largest campus, and University Park, Pennsylvania is the postal address used by Penn State. The University Park campus is located in State College and adjacent College Township, Pennsylvania. The campus post office was designated "University Park, Pennsylvania" in 1953 by Penn State president Milton Eisenhower, after what was then Pennsylvania State College was upgraded to university status.

The school that later became Penn State University was founded as a degree-granting institution on February 22, 1855, by act P.L. 46, No. 50 of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. Centre County, Pennsylvania, became the home of the new school when James Irvin of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, donated 200 acres (80.9 ha) of land – the first of 10,101 acres (4,088 ha) the school would eventually acquire. In 1862, the school's name was changed to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, and with the passage of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts, Pennsylvania selected the school in 1863 to be the state's sole land-grant college. The school's name changed to the Pennsylvania State College in 1874; enrollment fell to 64 undergraduates the following year as the school tried to balance purely agricultural studies with a more classic education.

In 1953, the university sought a name change for the town called State College to reflect the new status of the school as a university. As the name change referendum failed to pass, the resolution ended with a new postal address to be called "University Park".

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Pick the Ideal Electrician Vocational School near University Park PA

Selecting the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to evaluate and compare between the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and each student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom education needs to offer a real-world frame of reference, and the course of study should be up-to-date and in-line with industry standards. Programs differ in length and the type of credential provided, so you will have to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each training program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Take the time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the training program you pick 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 University Park PA.