How to Choose the Right Electrician Training School near Ledgewood New Jersey
The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is locating an electrician trade school near Ledgewood NJ. But with numerous technical schools to select from, just how do you tackle making certain that you enroll in the best one? Particularly because there are a number of variables to consider. For example, many potential students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their residence. After they have located a few that are within driving distance, they will pick the one with the least expensive tuition. While location and cost are of importance, they are not the sole things that must be considered. Also critical are the reputations of the schools, their accreditation, along with their job placement and graduation rates. These and other qualifiers should contribute toward your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s review a little bit about becoming an electrician and the instructional options that are offered.
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Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Ledgewood NJ. You can enroll in 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. Often these programs are made available combined with an apprenticeship program, which are mandated by most states in order to be licensed or if you want to become certified. Following are short descriptions of the 3 most common programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually provided by New Jersey vocational and trade schools and require approximately a year to complete. They provide a solid foundation and are aimed towards students who want to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs require 2 years to complete and are offered by New Jersey community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while providing the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are available at certain New Jersey institutions, but are less favored at four years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed before licensing. Therefore, most students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their educational program.
Electrician Licensing and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Ledgewood NJ can perform a wide range of functions, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and making sure that the wiring in houses and buildings comply with code standards. After concluding an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are required to become licensed in most states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship varies by state, but generally about 4 to 5 years of experience is needed before taking the licensing exam. The exams usually test general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also an optional means for an electrician to identify him or herself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be earned in many specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification process usually includes three 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 trade school that you choose not only delivers a solid academic foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you may be required to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Online Training Classes
An alternative that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online program to earn a certificate or degree. Although online training programs have become more popular as a means of attending class without the need for travel, in this case they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to obtain hands-on practical training. But since the balance of the classes may be accessed online, internet learning might be a more practical choice for individuals that have limited time for education. And as an added benefit numerous online training programs have a reduced tuition cost compared to their on campus competitors. Travelling expenses from Ledgewood NJ are also lessened and some of the study materials can be accessed on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more economical and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have decided to earn a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to focus your training options. Considering that there are numerous electrician trade and vocational schools in the Ledgewood NJ region, it’s important to have a checklist of qualifications that each program must meet. The first two 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 a feature that your final school offers. And while all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are additional factors that need to be considered also. Below is a checklist of those added qualifiers that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical technical school.
Accreditation. Many electrician trade schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive 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 Ledgewood NJ program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited in order to be approved 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 percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Ledgewood NJ students obtain apprenticeships or jobs.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous electrician vocational programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrician businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have referring partnerships with Ledgewood NJ area electricians or electrical companies. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Ledgewood NJ electrical contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Ledgewood residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak with a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Ledgewood NJ, verify that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
College Courses For Electricians Ledgewood New Jersey
Selecting the best electrical training program will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. You originally came to this website due to an interest in College Courses For Electricians and wanting more information on the topic Electrical Training Online. But as we have addressed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the training programs you are reviewing. It’s a prerequisite that any electrician training that you are reviewing includes a good deal 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 provide a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to determine what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Each program offers different possibilities for certification also. Perhaps the best approach to research your final list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Invest some 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 right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new occupation as a professional electrician in Ledgewood NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Ledgewood, New Jersey
Ledgewood is an unincorporated community located within Roxbury Township in Morris County, New Jersey.[2] It was historically known as Drakesville after Abraham Drake, originally from Piscataway, New Jersey, who operated a mill and tavern here in the mid 1700's.[3]
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