How to Become an Electrician in Youngsville Pennsylvania
The first step to becoming an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Youngsville PA. But with numerous technical schools to choose from, just how do you go about making certain that you enroll in the ideal one? Especially because there are so many factors to consider. For example, many potential students will commence by looking for schools that are close to their home. Once they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are significant, they are not the only factors that should be considered. Also important are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, as well as their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifications should influence your ultimate judgment when picking an electrician school. We will discuss that checklist in greater detail later in this article. But first, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training options that are available.
Electrician Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs near Youngsville PA
There are three general options to obtain electrician instruction in a technical or vocational school near Youngsville PA. You can choose a diploma or certificate program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as common as the first three alternatives. Often these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief summaries of the three most prevalent programs offered.
- Diploma and Certificate Programs are typically provided by Pennsylvania vocational and trade schools and take about a year to complete. They provide a good foundation and are geared towards individuals who wish to get into an apprenticeship faster as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degrees take 2 years to complete and are provided by Pennsylvania community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more well-rounded education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to enter into their apprenticeship program.
As earlier stated, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at certain Pennsylvania institutions, but are less favored at 4 years than the other shorter programs. Many states require that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and in most cases four years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, most students are eager to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Requirements
Electricians in Youngsville PA can carry out a wide range of services, including installing, replacing and testing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but typically about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed in order to take the licensing exam. The exams usually assess electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be obtained in several specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually entails three 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 crucial that the electrician vocational school that you pick not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any licensing and certification exams that you might need to pass in the future.
Attending Electrician Online Programs in Youngsville PA
A possibility that you might have looked at is selecting an electrician online school to earn a certificate or degree. Even though online training programs are becoming more popular as a means of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on campus to receive practical hands-on training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, distance learning can be a more convenient option for individuals that have limited time for schooling. And as an added benefit numerous online schools have a reduced tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving expenses from Youngsville PA are also reduced and some of the study materials may be accessed on line also. All of these advantages can make electrician online vocational schools more affordable and convenient. And many are fully accredited, which we will cover in our due diligence checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Training Schools
Now that you have made a decision to earn a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to narrow down your training options. Because there are so many electrician trade and vocational schools in the Youngsville PA area, it’s important to have a checklist of criteria that each program must meet. The first 2 that we talked about were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that must be an option that your chosen school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional variables that need to be considered also. Following is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to research prior to choosing an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. A large number of electrician trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Verify that the Youngsville PA program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get a quality education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the electrician training course 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 lower completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory 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 confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Youngsville PA grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Youngsville PA area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding 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 equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the electrical tech you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Youngsville PA electrical company if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Youngsville residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and instructors. Talk with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors 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 reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Youngsville PA, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Considering Attending an Electrician School near Youngsville PA?
Following is a little bit of background information about the Youngsville PA area.
Youngsville, Pennsylvania
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,834 people, 767 households, and 533 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,380.3 people per square mile (532.4/km²). There were 821 housing units at an average density of 617.9 per square mile (238.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.13% White, 0.38% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 767 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
Enroll in the Right Electrical Vocational School near Youngsville PA
Choosing the ideal electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to begin your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are several things that you will need to evaluate and compare between the schools you are reviewing. It’s a necessity that any electrical tech school that you are examining includes a good deal of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their own equipment to train with. Classroom instruction needs to provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the type of credential provided, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Every training program offers different options for certification also. Perhaps The ideal way to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and talk with the students and instructors. Take the time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the school you pick is the ideal one for you. With the right training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Youngsville PA.
Other Cool Cities in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 