How to Select the Right Electrician Vocational School near Pittstown New Jersey
The first step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Pittstown NJ. But with so many vocational schools to select from, just how do you approach making sure that you enroll in the right one? Particularly because there are so many points to evaluate. For example, many prospective students will start by looking for schools that are nearby their home. Once they have located some that are within commuting distance, they will choose the one with the lowest tuition. Even though cost and location are significant, they are not the only qualifications that need to be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, as well as their job placement and graduation rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your ultimate judgment when selecting an electrician training school. We will cover that checklist in more detail later in this article. But to begin with, let’s review a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Electrician Schools Near You!
Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Programs
There are several options to get electrician instruction in a vocational or trade school near Pittstown NJ. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or obtain an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at some schools, but are not as prevalent as the other three options. Frequently these programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship, which are required by most states to be licensed or if you wish to become certified. Following are brief explanations of the 3 most typical programs offered.
- Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically offered by New Jersey technical and trade schools and require about a year to complete. They furnish a good foundation and are geared towards students who would like to enter an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
- Associate Degree Programs take 2 years to finish and are provided by New Jersey community colleges, commonly as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that prepares students to join their apprenticeship program.
As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degrees are available at some New Jersey institutions, but are less popular at four years than the other shorter programs. Most states require that an apprenticeship of no less than 2 years and in most cases four years be performed before licensing. For that reason, the majority of students are anxious to start their paid apprenticeship, especially if it’s not part of their academic program.
Electrician License and Certification Criteria
Electricians in Pittstown NJ can carry out a multitude of duties, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of municipalities and states. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of practical experience is required before taking the licensing examination. The exams commonly assess general knowledge and electrical theory, along with knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Receiving certification is also an optional way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a experienced and skilled professional. The certifications available differ by state and may be obtained in numerous specializations, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure usually involves 3 levels of proficiency:
- 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 important that the electrician trade school that you select not only provides a strong educational foundation, but also helps ready you for passing any licensing and certification examinations that you might need to take in the future.
Enrolling in Electrician Schools Online
An option that you might have contemplated is enrolling in an online electrician school to earn a degree or a certificate. Even though online training programs have become more prevalent as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this instance they are not completely internet based. Virtually all electrician schools require some attendance on campus to get practical hands-on training. But since the remainder of the classes can be attended online, internet learning can be a more practical option for students that have limited time for schooling. And as a bonus numerous online training programs have a lower tuition cost compared to their on-campus competitors. Driving expenses from Pittstown NJ are also lessened and a portion of the study materials can be accessed on line also. Each of these advantages can make online electrician trade schools more affordable and accessible. And a number are fully accredited, which we will cover in our questions to ask checklist.
Things to Ask Electrician Tech Schools
Now that you have made a decision to obtain a certificate, diploma or degree, you can begin to focus your school options. Since there are so many electrician tech and trade schools in the Pittstown NJ area, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each program must satisfy. The initial two that we mentioned were location and the cost of tuition. If you have an interest in earning an degree online, then that needs to be a feature that your final school offers. And even though all three qualifiers may be important when making your decision, there are other factors that need to be taken into account as well. Below is a checklist of those added qualifications that you will need to analyze before selecting an electrical vocational school.
Accreditation. Numerous electrician trade programs have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Pittstown NJ program and school are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive a quality education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, some states mandate that the electrician training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.
High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at 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 may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and quit. It may also suggest that the instructors 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 list of graduates, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to assist Pittstown NJ grads obtain apprenticeships or employment.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have referring relationships with Pittstown NJ area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area electrician professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Pittstown NJ electrical company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your Pittstown home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of expertise is and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Pittstown NJ, confirm that the programs you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Electrical Training Classes Pittstown New Jersey
Picking the best electrician trade school will probably be the most important decision you will make to begin your new profession. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Electrical Training Classes and wanting more information on the topic Advanced Electrical Courses. But as we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to examine and compare among the training programs you are looking at. It’s a must that any electrician training program that you are evaluating includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes need to be small in size and each student must have their personal equipment to train with. Classroom instruction should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be current and conform with industry standards. Programs differ in duration and the kind of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and degree or certificate will best fulfill your needs. Every training program provides unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps the best means to research your final list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to monitor some classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you choose is the best one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional electrician in Pittstown NJ.
More Electric Locations in New Jersey
Pittstown, New Jersey
Pittstown is an unincorporated community located at the intersection of the boundaries of Alexandria, Franklin and Union townships in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States.[4][5] The area is named after William Pitt. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08867. The area was named Hofftown in the 18th century after landowner Lawrence Hoff.[6]
Business Results 1 - 10 of 242
5 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
10 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
15 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
7 Reviews 